Islamabad (TDI): In light of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s planned “do-or-die” protest scheduled for November 24, the government is likely to suspend mobile phone services nationwide starting this evening.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued firm directives to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to prevent PTI protesters from entering Islamabad.
As part of the preparations, police vans have been dispatched to the capital, and arrangements have been made for the detention and accommodation of demonstrators.
The government’s move comes amid heightened security measures ahead of the protest, with additional police forces being deployed.
PTI, the party founded by Imran Khan, has staged several marches in Islamabad in recent months, leading to clashes with law enforcement.
The protest is also taking place in the context of an official visit by the President of Belarus, scheduled from November 25 to 27.
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In anticipation of the demonstration, the government has enforced Section 144 in the capital, banning public gatherings, and has called for the deployment of 8,000 additional police personnel, along with Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary (FC).
The decision to suspend mobile services follows reports from Thursday that the government had planned a partial suspension in Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, according to media reports.
Heavy Road Blockades
Authorities have also implemented heavy road blockades around Islamabad, including the placement of shipping containers at key locations, including Faizabad, to restrict movement ahead of the protest.
Further measures come in response to directives from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which has instructed the authorities to ensure that PTI does not hold its protest in violation of the newly introduced peaceful assembly law.
The court, while acknowledging citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, has directed authorities to designate a specific area for the PTI protest.
Additionally, the Punjab government has imposed Section 144 for three days, from November 23 to November 25, and has placed over 10,700 police officers on standby across the province.
The PTI protest follows a breakdown in negotiations with the government, particularly regarding the release of PTI leader Imran Khan, which was a key demand for the protest to be called off.
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Meanwhile, traffic disruptions have already been reported, with major sections of the motorway and GT Road in Punjab closed due to roadblocks.
Key routes, including the Muridke to Jhelum section and the Chenab River Bridge in Gujrat, have been completely shut off with containers, leading to long traffic delays. The closure of the Lahore-Islamabad, Lahore-Abdul Hakeem, and Lahore-Multan motorways has further compounded the situation.
Authorities are urging commuters to avoid these routes and take alternative paths to avoid delays.
