Authorities have sealed all entry and exit points of Islamabad by placing containers as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced a protest rally at D-Chowk today (Friday).
Access to Motorway M-1 from Islamabad has been closed, along with entry points to the Red Zone, which are also blocked with containers. Routes like Faizabad, Sector I-8, IJ Principal Road, and Margalla Road have been shut down.
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Murree Road, Islamabad Expressway, Sangjani, Sector G-11 Chowk, Golra Mor, and 26 Number Chowki have all been closed as well.
Security has been ramped up in Rawalpindi, with 4,000 personnel and officers deployed by the administration.
Schools Closed
Abrar Ahmed, president of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association for Northern Punjab, announced that all private schools in Rawalpindi City will be closed today due to a potential political protest in Islamabad.
The Islamabad Private Schools Association has also decided to close schools in the federal capital. General Secretary Waheed Khan stressed that ensuring the safety of children is their top priority.
Metro Services Partially Suspended
The Metro bus administration has announced that the service from Rawalpindi Saddar to IJ Principal Road will be suspended, while it will continue to operate from IJ Principal Road to the Pakistan Secretariat. This means that residents of Rawalpindi will not have access to the Metro bus service today.
Mobile Service Suspended
In light of the anticipated political protest in Islamabad, mobile phone services have been suspended in key areas of the federal capital and surrounding regions. This precautionary measure is aimed at maintaining public safety and preventing potential disruptions during the protest. The suspension is expected to impact communication, particularly in high-risk zones, until the situation stabilizes. Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and plan accordingly for the service outage.
Mohsin Naqvi Warns of No Leniency
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued a warning that no leniency will be granted if PTI tries to enter Islamabad for their protest. He urged the party to reconsider their protest plans, highlighting that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is currently in Islamabad for an official visit.
He further mentioned that the Shanghai Cooperation Conference is also taking place in the capital. Naqvi emphasized that it is Pakistan’s primary duty to provide proper protocol and ensure top-level security for foreign guests, and no compromises will be made on this matter.
