Urdu Report Desk
The federal government has requested 23,500 police personnel from Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to strengthen security in Islamabad ahead of planned long marches by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami.
PTI has announced a march toward the capital on September 27, while Jamaat-e-Islami plans to march on Islamabad on September 20. In anticipation of the demonstrations, large numbers of shipping containers have been placed along roads at various entry and exit points of the capital to facilitate possible road closures.
The government has also imposed restrictions on public gatherings in Punjab amid concerns over potential security threats.
Police Deployment in Islamabad
According to a September 12 letter issued by the Cabinet Division, Punjab has been directed to provide 15,000 police personnel, Sindh 8,000, and Balochistan 500.
The letter instructed the provinces to ensure that the requested personnel reach Islamabad by September 20. The additional deployment is intended to help authorities manage the security situation and respond to any possible developments surrounding the planned marches.
PTI Announces September 27 March
PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the party’s plan to march toward Islamabad on September 27 during a rally in Peshawar on August 5.
Addressing the gathering, Afridi said, “Enough is enough. The time has come to come out. There will be a march on Islamabad on September 27.”
He further urged supporters to participate in the march in support of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Jamaat-e-Islami Plans September 20 March
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced the decision to turn the party’s ongoing protests and sit-ins into a long march toward Islamabad on September 20.
Speaking at a rally in Gujranwala on September 12, he announced the march against inflation, rising prices of essential commodities, and the petroleum levy.
Punjab Bans Public Gatherings
The Punjab government has imposed a five-day ban on all types of public gatherings across the province from September 13 to 17, citing multiple threat alerts related to possible terrorist activities.
A notification issued on September 13 stated that Section 144 had been imposed throughout Punjab due to serious threats to public order and the safety of lives and property.
The notification said law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies had received information about immediate security threats.
According to the notification, large gatherings in the form of rallies, processions, sit-ins, religious gatherings and demonstrations could become easy targets for potential terrorist attacks.
PTI Claims Arrests and Raids
Ahead of the planned march, PTI has alleged that party leaders and workers are being arrested and that raids are being conducted at their homes in various cities across Punjab.
The party claims that the government is carrying out these actions to prevent its workers from reaching Islamabad.
The Punjab government, however, has said it will comply with any decision issued by the courts regarding the long march.
Government officials have also made it clear that no one will be allowed to disrupt law and order in the name of protests or long marches.
