PTI-govt showdown seems imminent today

ISLAMABAD: A showdown between the ruling alliance in the Centre and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party appears imminent as the latter has announced a rally at the D-Chowk Islamabad at all costs on Friday (today), while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that no leniency would be shown if anyone tried to enter the federal capital for protest.

On Thursday, the federal and Punjab governments carried out a crackdown on the PTI and arrested dozens of PTI workers from Punjab cities and capital territory. Section 144 was imposed in Punjab for six days and long vehicles were placed at all the entry points of Islamabad to bar the PTI activists from entering the city.

The Islamabad district administration has already enforced Section 144 and “the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024”, regulating holding of public assemblies at certain places in the capital.

In efforts to thwart the potential protest, the authorities started sealing the federal capital by placing containers to block the Murree Road leading towards Faizabad Interchange and Islamabad Expressway. Sources related to security said containers had been placed at 24 points at all the roads leading to the federal capital. Pillion-riding has also been banned for two days in Islamabad.

Besides strict security arrangements, blockades were put at various arteries to stop the protesters from gathering in the capital. Meanwhile, the motorway police have also blocked the Motorway M-1 at Swabi Interchange.

In a separate statement, the Islamabad police said that all Khidmat Markaz Centres and driving licence branches will also remain closed.

Sources said Rawalpindi was put on a high alert while at least 4,000 security personnel were deployed in the city. Furthermore, metro bus service from Saddar to IJP Road will remain closed today (Friday).

KP Food Minister Muhammad Zahir Shah said on Thursday the federal government had contacted CM Ali Amin Gandapur to convince him to call off the protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad. “However, the chief minister refused to budge,” he said. “Gandapur told the authorities that the protest will only be cancelled on Imran Khan’s call.”

Zahir Shah said the chief minister later convened a meeting of PTI leaders for consultation. “The chief minister will consult participants of the meeting about the matters related to D-Chowk protest,” added the minister.

Sources also claimed the federal authorities were in contact with KP CM. The federal government has asked the provincial chief executive to postpone the protest as it would coincide with the final day of Malaysian prime minister’s visit to Pakistan.

However, KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif denied any contact with the federal authorities. “No formal contact was made by any federal minister. The decision to stage demonstration at D-Chowk remains intact. The protest will be held at all costs,” Saif added.

Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while addressing a presser, warned of strict action against those who plan to launch an “onslaught on Islamabad”, urging the PTI to review its protest call. “PTI’s top leadership should review its protest call. No one will be allowed to protest in Islamabad,” the security czar said.

He said foreign delegations including from China and Saudi Arabia would be arriving in the federal capital, adding that the upcoming SCO summit, scheduled for October 15 and 16 in Islamabad, was of utmost importance for the country.

“Paramilitary forces, army and Rangers have been called in. We have to ensure security in the federal capital,” he added. Naqvi said the country’s interest should be given priority over political goals, stating that any act that could tarnish the country’s image should be avoided.

“We hope that KP CM will not resort to any move that could bring disrepute to the country. PTI is a party of Pakistan, not a foreign entity. When head of a state is present in Islamabad and you plan to onrush at that time, this is completely inappropriate,” Naqvi said.

He warned that the country would suffer forever if even a minor incident occurred during the Malaysian premier’s stay. “You have time till tomorrow. Review your protest call as there is no permission at all to launch an assault,” he added.

“If anyone does this tomorrow, they should not expect any leniency. This is a very thin line for us,” the minister said, adding that in such a case, no one should ask the administration to show leniency to whoever was caught. He further said the police have completed its arrangement if anyone came to the capital, and no one should complain if they were dealt with in a certain manner.

Citing possible road closure across the federal capital, the private schools association has announced that schools will remain closed on Friday (tomorrow).

On the other hand, at least 84 PTI workers were arrested from various areas of Lahore on Thursday. According to the police, the arrested individuals were wanted in connection with other cases, including incidents on May 9 and September 21. The arrests were made due to concerns over potential disturbances to public order. The police arrested workers from Kahana, Nishtar Colony, Ghalib Market and Gulberg.

Also, 439 PTI workers were booked and 73 arrested during the PTI protest call in Bahawalpur on Wednesday, and nine FIRs were registered under Section 188 of the CrPC at different police stations. Three PTI MPA ticketholders and one MNA ticketholder were among the arrested activists, including Zahid Bahar Hashmi, the son-in-law of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi.

The judicial magistrate released 43 arrested activists on Thursday; however, 29 workers were sent to jail on judicial remand.

The PTI lawyers forum said arrests of three PTI leaders booked under 16 MPO had been challenged in the LHC Bahawalpur Bench. PTI South Punjab President Senator Aun Abbas Bappi has been booked under Section 188 CrPC on charges of violation of Section 144 and 16-MPO and other sections.

Separately, former federal minister Senator Faisal Vawda said on Thursday the PTI wanted dead bodies and they wanted to come to the Red Zone for fighting. “They want bullets to go off because there is a plan to kill people within the party, as the PTI wants dead bodies,” he charged while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

He said that if the founder of PTI was talking about struggle of independence, then he should call his sons to Pakistan first. “We are hearing and seeing everything, timing is important because the SCO meeting is going to be held in Pakistan,” he pointed out.

The economy, he noted, is back on track and petrol prices have been slashed while inflation was brought down as well; Imran knows this and is unable to digest all this.

Also, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called upon the government and PTI to hold a ceasefire for a successful SCO Summit in Islamabad on October 16 and 17. “We do not expect the government that it will be able to bear fruits of holding SCO Summit, but we should welcome our guests to Pakistan. There is also hope that the event may give good news for the country’s future,” Fazl told a news conference in the capital.

He said he never accepted the incumbent government as real representative of the nation, and also feels that it did not have the ability to bear fruits of the summit, but still a positive message should go to foreign guests.