As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for its “do-or-die” protest on November 24, the government is set to implement strict security measures, including suspending mobile services nationwide starting this evening, interior ministry sources revealed.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed authorities to prevent protesters from entering Islamabad, with police vans deployed, arrests planned, and detention arrangements finalized. These measures coincide with road closures across Punjab and key sections of motorways, causing significant traffic disruptions.
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The protest follows a breakdown in talks between PTI and the government, which refused PTI’s demand for Imran Khan’s release by Friday. Section 144 has been imposed in Islamabad for two months and in Punjab for three days, with over 10,700 police personnel on standby and additional forces from Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary deployed.
The Islamabad High Court has instructed authorities to allocate a designated protest site to PTI while enforcing newly enacted peaceful assembly laws. This protest also precedes the Belarusian president’s visit to Pakistan from November 25 to 27.
Strict measures are also to be taken in the context of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders wherein the court has directed the authorities concerned not to allow the PTI to hold its protest in the federal capital in violation of the newly enacted peaceful assembly law.
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Deciding on a petition filed by the trade association’s president, IHC Chief Justice Justice Aamer Farooq in his five-page verdict ordered the authorities to constitute a committee to engage with the PTI leadership.
Noting that the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and movement enjoyed by Pakistani citizens were subjected to proportional and reasonable restrictions, the IHC judge directed authorities to allocate a designated place to the PTI for organising its demonstration.
“Motorway closed for 2 days at 6 different locations due to repair work [….] Motorway M1 from Islamabad to Peshawar, Motorway M2 from Lahore to Islamabad will be closed, Motorway M3 from Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, Motorway M4 from Pindi Bhatian to Multan will be closed. The Lahore-Sialkot Motorway M-11 was also closed for all types of traffic, the Islamabad-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway M-14 was closed from Hakla to York,” read a notification.