ISLAMABAD: Thousands of police officers and personnel from Punjab and Sindh are heading to Islamabad to assist local authorities as security preparations intensify ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned march on September 27.
According to police sources, around 1,950 personnel from Sindh are expected to reach the capital on Tuesday night, while Punjab will send 19,000 officers and personnel over the next two days.
The federal government had sought assistance from Punjab for 23,000 police personnel, the sources said.
Arrangements for the accommodation of personnel arriving from Punjab, Sindh and the Frontier Corps have also been completed, according to the sources.
The PTI has announced the September 27 protest and march towards Islamabad to demand the release of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan, and what the party describes as the supremacy of the Constitution.
The Islamabad High Court has issued directions concerning the proposed march, including orders aimed at preventing the obstruction of public roads and other facilities.
Six PTI lawmakers detained
Meanwhile, Islamabad Police have arrested MNA Adil Bazai, taking the number of detained PTI lawmakers in the capital to six, according to police sources.
The detained lawmakers include Senator Saifullah Niazi and MNAs Sanaullah Masti Khel, Mian Ahsan Jamal, Dawar Kundi, Ghaus Muhammad and Adil Bazai.
According to reports, they have been detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance and shifted to Jhelum Jail.
Containers being positioned across capital
Authorities are also preparing large numbers of shipping containers at strategic locations in Islamabad.
Long lines of containers have been joined through welding at different locations overnight as part of preparations to restrict movement during the planned protest.
Additional security measures have been reported at entry and exit points and along major roads in the capital.
PTI maintains march will go ahead
The PTI has maintained that it will proceed with the march and has described protest as its democratic and constitutional right.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the party had been in contact with relevant federal authorities and had conveyed its concerns over the recent arrests. He also urged authorities to avoid further arrests, warning that such measures could aggravate the situation.
Govt vows permanent strategy to handle PTI protests ahead of Sept 27 march
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also reiterated the party’s commitment to the planned mobilisation, saying the PTI would continue with the long march.
The detention of Imran Khan’s sisters has added to tensions surrounding the planned protest. Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan have been detained for 30 days, following the detention of their sister Aleema Khan.
Government steps up security preparations
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said the government will adopt measures to prevent prolonged disruption caused by demonstrations.
He has warned that Islamabad will not be allowed to remain shut for extended periods because of protests and said the government would implement the Islamabad High Court’s orders if the PTI proceeds with the march.
The government has maintained that its measures are intended to preserve public order and prevent disruption to routine life, while the PTI has criticised the arrests and restrictions ahead of its planned protest.
Calls for dialogue
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas has called for dialogue between the government and opposition, saying negotiations were necessary to address the current political tensions.
He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to form a committee of political leaders and ensure that negotiating teams on both sides have sufficient authority to make decisions.
Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) condemned the arrests of Aleema Khan, parliamentarians, political workers and other citizens, as well as the placement of containers on highways.
The group said restrictions and arrests in response to political activity could further intensify tensions ahead of the September 27 mobilisation.
