arlier this week, Islamabad witnessed a near lockdown due to heightened security ahead of and during the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states. Threats of street protest and sit-ins amid heightened domestic political tensions made the security situation more complex.

The Interior Ministry had chalked out a comprehensive security plan for the summit to provide an enabling environment as premiers and high level foreign delegates of SCO member states made their way to Islamabad.

Delegates from China, Russia, Tajikistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and India attended the summit along with others.

As many as 12,000 security personnel were deployed in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Security personnel deployed from the Islamabad Airport to the Red Zone included troops from the Pak Army, the Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary. Police personnel from Islamabad, the Punjab and Sindh had also been deployed.

As many as 3,500 police personnel and others were deployed around the airport in addition to 700 traffic police officials to ensure foolproof security.

Security patrols were deployed at all important security zones as well as entry/ exit points, and hotels.

Foreign delegates were hosted at several places in the capital’s Red Zone. Detailed security plans for their movement to the Convention Centre had already been shared in the arrangements rehearsed.

The federal capital administration had closed down restaurants, public places and roads leading to the Red Zone and the areas adjoining the convention centre, where the summit was held. Markets, wedding halls, hotels, schools and hostels located along all the primary routes also remained closed. A three-day holiday had been announced in the twin cities ahead of the summit.

“An integrated security plan was developed for the purpose,” Nasir Ali Rizvi, the inspector-general of Islamabad police said. More than 90 percent of the Islamabad police force (around 10,000 personnel) were deployed for security along with other forces. An integrated traffic plan was also issued for the convenience of citizens.

Government hospitals in the twin cities were put on high alert to cope with any emergency.

“The administration closed down several routes that had earlier been promised to remain open. The day the foreign dignitaries started arriving, these routes were also closed. This caused major problems in commuting,” says Muhammad Waseem, a resident of Islamabad.

The twin cities had already been on high security for some weeks. Residents had been facing serious obstacles in commuting on account of political agitation. The announcement of a major protest demonstration by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in Islamabad as the federal capital hosted the SCO summit, had alerted the authorities. Hundreds of containers were placed at various entrances and in some areas in the Red Zone to avoid any untoward situation.

“On all such occasions, commuters and residents have to face difficulties. All of this is due to political instability. This is not a good sign for the country or for its image,” said Nasir Ali, another resident of Islamabad.

In anticipation of the summit, the federal government had already invoked strict laws to restrict street protests and prevent large crowds without the permission of the capital administration.

Journalist Nusrat Javed noted on X (formerly Twitter) that a “strange environment” had been created in the garb of security in Islamabad. He said the city should have remained open and accessible, while following appropriate security measures and protocols. He also said foreign media persons should have been allowed to move freely. This, he said, “would have been great hospitality.”

Journalist Baqir Sajid posted on X that the government had taken extraordinary security measures for SCO meeting. “Behind Islamabad’s dazzling lights for the SCO 2024 lies a dark reality: it is a city in lockdown; the citizens are inconvenienced and their movements are curtailed.”

The writer is a staff member. He can be reached at vaqargillani@gmail.com