ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were turned into a battlefield on Friday due to clash of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protestors with the police here.
Despite a massive lockdown of the federal capital with containers blocking more than two dozen locations, the PTI workers managed to break through several barriers and reach near Express Chowk on Friday night.
The clashes took place at different points including Shamsabad, Faizabad Interchange, Committee Chowk and 6th Road in Rawalpindi, and Sohan, Expressway, Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area and near D-Chowk in Islamabad. The worst shelling and clashes also took place at some other areas of ‘Red Zone’, which is a stone’s throw from the sensitive areas and other places including on IJ Principal Road and the Islamabad Expressway.
Police and other law-enforcement agencies also encircled Adiala jail Rawalpindi and Adiala Road to avoid any untoward incident.
The Islamabad police also arrested Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, sisters of former prime minister Imran Khan from D-Chowk. Police continued arresting the PTI protesters from different points of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Hundreds of PTI workers gathered at different points of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and tried to march towards D-Chowk, but they were intercepted by a contingent of police who fired teargas shelling to disperse them. When a large number of PTI workers attempted to enter Islamabad from the Faizabad side, Islamabad police deployed at the intersection resorted to heavy shelling, forcing the charged workers to retreat. The clash continued for several hours till filing of the report and protesters pelted police with stones and attacked them with sticks. Police retaliated with heavy shelling.
Rawalpindi and Islamabad police was advising common citizens on loudspeakers to go to their homes. Due to the PTI protest demonstration, Murree Road, Islamabad Expressway, IJP Road, GT Road and Motorway were closed at different points, which caused immense inconvenience to citizens including patients, motorists and travellers.
Several PTI workers and police officials were also injured during the clash with police. The protesters set fire to garbage dumps at different places to mitigate shelling effects. Traffic between twin cities remained disrupted for several hours due to protests as public transport vanished from roads, forcing commuters to walk for miles to reach their destinations. Due to closure of main highways in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, citizens faced severe problems.
All commercial centres, hotels and bus stands adjacent to Faizabad Interchange remained closed. Due to severe shelling at Faizabad, residents of nearby areas struggled to inhale fresh air as black and white smoke pervaded the area. Police stopped the PTI workers from marching on the red zone and pushed them back. Hide-and-seek between police and the PTI protesters continued till filing of the report.
Massive teargas was fired at different locations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad including 26 No. Chungi, Tarnol, China Chowk, Express Chowk, Faizabad, Swan and Shamsabad to disperse the agitators. Over 350 activists of PTI were arrested involved in pelting stones on police and damaged public and private properties, the Rawalpindi police sources said.
They were taken to an undisclosed location as police intensified their crackdown on demonstrators. Over 60 PTI workers, who made it to Express Chowk, were also arrested and shifted to local police stations. The protesters, led by PTI regional president Aamir Mughal, came prepared with masks to protect themselves from police’s response of tear-gas shelling.
The clashes also resulted in injuries to three police officers, including SP Ali Raza, who was injured by stone-throwing during a confrontation near Sohan on Islamabad Expressway. Despite escalating violence, Islamabad’s IG Ali Nasir Rizvi made rounds at various locations, including Express Chowk, instructing officers to peacefully disperse the protesters. The IG confirmed that over 30 demonstrators had been arrested so far.
The authorities imposed strict security measures across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, enforcing Section 144 in the twin cities. All roads leading to D-Chowk were sealed off with containers and barbed wire, while Islamabad Expressway was closed off entirely. Faizabad Bridge was fortified with double-layer containers to prevent the influx of protesters.
Mobile-phone services across Islamabad were suspended, and the Metro bus service was halted indefinitely. A ban on bike pillion-riding was imposed for two days. The blockades paralysed the city, with all schools closed and attendance at offices drastically reduced. Public and private sector employees were sent home after Friday prayers due to the ongoing unrest.
Road closures on GT Road, M1 and M2 Motorways prevented hundreds of PTI workers from entering the capital from other cities. Protesters, many of whom were young men, vowed to stay until their demonstration at D-Chowk was complete, as per the instructions of the PTI founder. So far, approximately 450 workers have been arrested since Thursday.
In Rawalpindi, similar security measures were in place, with authorities closing off all entry points to Islamabad using containers and other barricades. Major roads such as Murree Road near the Cricket Stadium, Charing Cross, and Peshawar Road were closed to all traffic. Marir Chowk and adjacent areas were also sealed.
Rangers have been called in to aid the police in maintaining order, with deployments across major cities, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
To curb communication during protest, mobile-phone services have been suspended in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and surrounding areas, including Gujjar Khan, Hasanabdal, Taxila, and Kallar Syedan. While mobile networks are down, broadband internet and landline services are still operational.
Meanwhile, brushing aside the heightened threat of arrest of PTI workers, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Friday vowed to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk for lodging protest at all costs.
Speaking to the media before his departure to Islamabad, he said workers would reach the location of protest despite all odds, adding that orders only from Imran Khan could end the protest. “I urge all workers to arrive at D-Chowk for real independence. We will continue to fight for protection of Constitution and continue to strive for restoration of Constitution,” he added.
On the other hand, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) accepted bail plea of KP CM in two cases till Oct 25. PHC Chief justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the bail pleas of the KP CM and granted him bail while asking his counsel to appear before the relevant courts.
On his way to Islamabad, KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy was stuck near Burhan Interchange for hours. His information aide, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, told Geo News Gandapur’s convoy crossed Pathargarh and the CM has decided to spend night there, adding the convoy would leave for D-Chowk in the morning.
Separately, PTI leader Sheikh Waqas Akram said the protest call was given by Imran Khan, adding that only he could call off the protest.
He categorically rejected the impression that KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur was using his government’s resources for the protest rally.
“Gandapur is a Pakistani citizen and staging protest is our [democratic] right,” he added.
Meanwhile, Adviser to Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif Friday condemned the federal and Punjab governments for the alleged use of force against the PTI workers heading for D-Chowk to stage a protest.
He expressed concern over the current political situation in the country and said the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) was making every effort to save its rule, which he termed illegitimate. “Firing shots at peaceful protesters is an act against democracy,” Saif said, adding that the PMLN government had left no stone unturned in turning a peaceful protest violent, but vowed to make oppressors accountable.
Barrister Saif felt that the rule of Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz was in the final days, as the public would no longer tolerate this tyranny.
He came down hard on the federal and Punjab governments after accusing them of using state machinery by firing at unarmed protesters and tear-gassing them.
“All this has proven that this government is not a representative of the people but is merely prolonging rule to continue robbing the exchequer,” he added.
Barrister Saif accused the PMLN of being afraid of peaceful protesters and placing spikes on the Motorway-1 near Swabi to stop the PTI workers from proceeding to the federal capital.
He alleged the PMLN had plotted to cause casualties during the protest. Barrister Saif accused the federal government of deliberately trying to turn a peaceful protest into a violent one.
Responding to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s statement, the KP government spokesman said the claim that the police were peaceful was a lie. He added that the peaceful citizens were being subjected to state oppression, with excessive use of tear gas and rubber bullets.
Barrister Saif was critical of the federal government for arresting the sister of the PTI founder, Aleema Khan in Islamabad and that of other party workers.
In Toba Tek Singh, entry into Motorway (M-4) remained closed on the second day on Friday from interchanges of Shorkot, Waryam Wala, Toba, Gojra and Painsara.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the activists of Imran Khan’s party were going to “attack Islamabad with weapons”.
“This is not the right way and we will not allow this to happen,” the security czar said while talking to journalists here on Friday. He said he had requested the PTI a day earlier as well “not to hold a rally for now”. The minister added that he would not let anyone damage properties. He said the security force deployed by the government did not wield guns, whereas “you could see in videos and pictures that those coming towards Islamabad are carrying arms”.
“The KP chief minister [Ali Amin Gandapur] is a Pakistani. He should think what he’s doing. He has an entire province under his command; he should hold protest wherever he wants,” Naqvi said, adding that they had the right to hold protest, but it was not the right way to do it.
“I am clear in my stance that they are storming Islamabad,” he said.
The interior minister said the government had taken some extra measures for security of the foreign guests. “Providing security to those guests was crucial.” Mohsin Naqvi also took an aerial view of twin cities, reviewing the security arrangements and the overall situation on the ground. He expressed satisfaction with the security measures in place. “The Islamabad administration and police are fully prepared to handle any situation,” Naqvi said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order.
Separately, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar said on Friday advised KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur to fulfil his responsibilities and take steps for price control in his province including law and order situation instead of marching on Islamabad. He asked him to take measures to revamp Counter Terrorism Department and police department in his province.
Replying to media persons’ questions, he said it was unfortunate that the PTI held a sit-in when Chinese president was due in 2014, which resulted in delay in launch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Similarly, now when Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was in Islamabad, the PTI founder gave call for march on D-Chowk. He alleged that during the PTI rule, Pakistan’s relations with all friendly countries were affected adversely and Islamabad was isolated on foreign policy front.
He said the SCO summit was a great honour for Pakistan and agitation on this occasion would give a negative message about the country. “We have to show the soft and positive identity of Pakistan to the world,” he said adding the opposition should protest on the floor of Parliament.
Federal Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik said on Friday the government’s priority was to provide maximum facilities to people. All economic indicators were positive, with exports increasing, trade deficit decreasing, and inflation dropping to 6.9 per cent, surpassing even expert projections.
Addressing a press conference, he regretted that the opposition’s leadership was seeking only destruction, chaos, and politics of hate and abuse. He lamented that the PTI staged a sit-in when the Chinese president was due to visit in 2014, which delayed the launch of CPEC. Similarly, when Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim was in Islamabad, the PTI chairman called for a march towards D-Chowk.
The minister called for the opposition to acknowledge Pakistan’s economic development at a time when the world is appreciating it. He recalled that the PTI leadership once asked the IMF to halt an agreement with Pakistan. He also mentioned that despite concerns over the outcome of the 2018 elections, the PMLN leadership offered the PTI government charter of the economy. Additionally, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari extended cooperation to PTI on the floor of the House.
He added that during the PTI government’s tenure, top PMLN leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Saad Rafique, Rana Sanaullah, and Khawaja Asif, were arrested. Leadership from the PPP, including Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, were also detained. Musadik criticised the PTI for its maligning campaign against state institutions. He said that military installations and memorials of the country’s heroes were targeted and attacked by PTI workers on May 9.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the PTI was a terrorist party with no connection to politics. She said that disruptive group always opposed national development. The prisoner at Adiala Jail [Imran Khan] seeks chaos, destruction, to cause bloodshed. She alleged that Imran Khan did not support Pakistan’s development and prosperity in any form. “Whenever the country makes progress, this disruptive party tries to obstruct it,” she claimed adding that KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur was on the way to invade Islamabad with cranes, lifters, government resources, and employees.
The provincial information minister warned that anyone violating the law in Punjab would face strict consequences.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government enforced Section 144 in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Sargodha, according to a notification, issued by the Punjab Home Department. This emergency measure is aimed at curbing public gatherings amidst rising security concerns. Section 144 will remain in effect from Friday to Sunday in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Sargodha. However, in Lahore, it will be enforced for an extended period, from Thursday through Tuesday. During this time, political gatherings, rallies, protests, and demonstrations are strictly prohibited to ensure public safety.
In light of security threats, the district administrations of Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Attock have requested additional assistance from the Rangers. The Punjab government has sought four companies of Rangers for Rawalpindi and two for Attock, with deployment scheduled for October 4 and 5. Lahore has requested for three companies of Rangers for October 5. In addition, 10 platoons of the Frontier Constabulary are recommended for deployment in Attock to maintain order.
The notification underscored concerns that public gatherings could become soft targets for terrorist activities, necessitating immediate action. The enforcement of Section 144, along with the deployment of Rangers, is intended to maintain law and order and safeguard public life and property. Further restrictions include a ban on pillion-riding in Rawalpindi and Attock from Friday to Saturday.
Separately, PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman advised the PTI leadership to shun disruptive activities and invasion of Islamabad, and focus on its government in KP.
“Today again Islamabad was closed due to ‘Tehreek-i-Inteshaar’ protest despite the presence of prime minister of Malaysia in the capital.
Sherry said the SCO summit is to be held in Islamabad this month and, in this situation what message was PTI sending to the world.