The Pakistan Army was deployed in Islamabad on Saturday to maintain security as protests organized by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party intensified. The deployment comes under Article 245 of the Constitution, with army troops stationed in the capital from October 5-17 to ensure law and order during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled for October 15-16.
PTI supporters, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, continued their protest march towards D-Chowk in Islamabad, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan, who is currently jailed. The protest is also seen as an expression of solidarity with Pakistan’s judiciary, as tensions between PTI and the government reach new heights. Despite appeals from the government to call off the demonstration, Khan refused to postpone the protest.
Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, confirmed that army units were deployed in Islamabad specifically to manage the ongoing PTI protest and to ensure security for the SCO summit. “We hold the Pakistan Army in high esteem,” Saif said, emphasizing that PTI has no conflict with the military.
Protest March Continues
The protest caravan, led by Gandapur, began its journey from Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, reaching the Buhran area in Punjab’s Attock region by midnight. Saif indicated that the convoy would resume its journey towards D-Chowk on Saturday, asserting that “CM Gandapur will make it to D-Chowk, no matter what.”
To counter the protests, the government has taken stringent measures, blocking all major highways leading to Islamabad, banning pillion riding, and suspending mobile services for the second consecutive day. Authorities have also invoked Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, prohibiting public gatherings and protests in both Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Heightened Security Ahead Of SCO Summit
In a bid to prevent unrest ahead of the SCO Summit, additional police, paramilitary Rangers, and regular army troops were deployed across Islamabad. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi conducted an aerial inspection of the federal capital and warned that no disruptions to law and order would be tolerated. “Nobody will be allowed to disrupt law and order [in Islamabad],” he warned, instructing authorities to deal with potential agitators “with an iron hand.”
Meanwhile, PTI has also called for protests in Lahore. Supporters were instructed to gather at Minar-e-Pakistan Park. In response, the government has imposed Section 144 in Lahore to prevent any large assemblies or demonstrations. The PTI leadership has directed the Lahore chapter to avoid participating in the Islamabad protest to preserve numbers for the upcoming Lahore power show.
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