Tensions are high in Islamabad as the government gets ready for the PTI protest against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Islamabad’s district administration has sealed the Red Zone and placed containers at the entry points of the federal capital.
According to the details, entry into the Red Zone is banned for protesters and all unconcerned people. Entry into the Red Zone will be allowed only through Margalla Road.
Moreover, 2,000 personnel of law enforcement agencies including the anti-riot force, Rangers, FC, and police have been deployed around the red zone.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁
Serena Chowk, NADRA Chowk, Express Chowk and Ayub Chowk are closed for Red Zone Entry and Exit.
Alternatively, only Margallah Road can be used for Red Zone Entry and Exit.#ICTP #ITP
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) August 4, 2022
Needless to say, the tight security measure has resulted in backlash from PTI who has accused the government of resorting to fascism. PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said the fascist government is misusing the ECP to limit the powers of the Supreme Court.
Read more: Did Secy. of Interior Ministry advise police to do killings in Azadi March II?
“The whole of Islamabad is currently presenting the scene of a besieged city. The so-called fascist government wants to ban the opposition and limit the powers of the Supreme Court by using the Election Commission. Pakistan can only be saved by getting rid of this government. After liberating Punjab, the people are ready to liberate Islamabad as well,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
پورا اسلام آباد اس وقت ایک محصور شہر کا منظر پیش کر رہا ہے نام نہاد فاشسٹ حکومت الیکش کمیشن کو استعمال کر کے اپوزیشن پر پابندی اور سپریم کورٹ کے اختیارات محدود کرنا چاہتی ہے،اس حکومت سے نجات میں پاکستان کی نجات ہے، عوام پنجاب کے بعد اب اسلام آباد کو بھی آزاد کرانے کیلئے تیار ہیں
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) August 4, 2022
Similarly, PTI leader Asad Umar said the incumbent government fears the public.
“When the government is not rooted in the people and is a product of external interference, it looks as scared as this imported government. We informed the administration yesterday that only the elected representatives of the people will go to the office of the Election Commission. They have filled the entire area with containers out of fear of the people,” Asad Umar tweeted.
جب حکومت کی عوام میں جڑیں نہ ہوں اور وہ بیرونی مداخلت کی پیداوار ہو تو ایسے ہی خوفزدہ نظر آتی ہے جیسی یہ امپورٹد حکومت. ہم نے کل ہی انتطامیہ کو اطلاع دے دی تھی، الیکشن کمیشن کے دفتر صرف عوام کے منتخب نمائندے جائیں گے. انہوں نے عوام کے خوف سے پورا علاقہ کنٹینر سے بھر دیا ہے
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 4, 2022
Islamabad to become a war zone?
Imran Khan had announced to stage a protest outside the ECP head office in Islamabad on Thursday (today). He called on his supporters to gather outside the ECP headquarters in Islamabad to demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.
While political parties claim that their protests will be peaceful, the protests often end up being violent, for instance, PTI’s Azadi March. This time too it is feared that the PTI protest scheduled for today will be violent.
Read more: Criminal case against Rana Sanaullah for Azadi March violence
A day earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah hinted at giving a tough time to PTI. He said that there is a ban enforced in the Red Zone for any kind of protest. Rana Sanaullah said that PTI has planned to create chaos in the name of the protest against ECP. He expressed suspicions that he received reports about a possible attack against ECP by the PTI workers.
On the other hand, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has urged his supporters to carry out a peaceful protest against the CEC and ECP.
Today I am calling all our people to come out in peaceful public protest against CEC & ECP in F9 Park at 6 pm. I will be addressing the gathering between 7:00 – 7:30 pm.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 4, 2022