ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set to stage a huge protest in Islamabad led by party founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The rally seeks to add pressure on the government to release Khan while it protests at D-Chowk, despite the government rounding off Islamabad with security.
PTI has mobilized large numbers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; a convoy led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur left Swabi heading towards Islamabad.
The caravan was expected to reach Islamabad by 11 AM, where the party will stay at D-Chowk however, because of the roadblocks or containers the rally has not reached its destination.
Gandapur promised on Wednesday PTI will bring its private machinery to get over the hurdles and reach Islamabad. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, will be following the convoys from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s House but will not be taking part in the protest.
In the run-up to the protest, the federal government in Islamabad has put in place a stout round of security measures, cordoning off several key roads and blocking off access routes to the Red Zone, which houses vital government buildings.
A veritable wall of containers was erected around the rest of the city with containers across various key routes including Srinagar Highway, GT Road, and the Express Highway, restricting access to strategic areas including D-Chowk, Islamabad Airport, and the A-11 point on New Margalla Road.
Rangers with the police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) have been stationed to patrol the area. The federal government also warned against holding any unlawful protests and stated that no one will be allowed to hold any demonstration even if it violates certain judicial orders, promising to act against violators, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar that the government will not allow any sit-in or rally in Islamabad because of security concerns.
Whereas, according to a recent update 300 PTI protestors are arrested from Islamabad including several others from areas of Jhelum and Lahore.
PTI Leaders Arrested
Three PTI leaders, including a member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly and a member of the National Assembly, have reportedly been arrested in Multan.
According to police sources, these include Moinuddin Riaz Qureshi, Aamir Dogar, and Zain Qureshi. The three individuals have been placed under house arrest for posing a risk to public order. PTI representatives were traveling from Multan to Islamabad to attend the protest march.
For trying to participate in a PTI demonstration, another PTI MNA from Chichawatni was arrested. Rai Hassan Nawaz and numerous PTI employees who were traveling from Chichawatni to Islamabad were taken into custody.
According to authorities, Rana Amir Shahzad, a member of the National Assembly, was taken into custody from his Sahiwal farmhouse.
