ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital was tense on Sunday with heavy police deployment and many roads and “sensitive” parts of the city sealed off with shipping containers ahead of a planned rally by the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to press for his release.
The district administration has allowed Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to hold the public gathering in the Sangjani locality on the outskirts of Islamabad. The rally was previously planned for July and then August but was postponed both times after permission was revoked over what officials described as security threats and concerns about unrest.
The main aim of the rally — the PTI’s first within Islamabad’s jurisdiction since the Feb. 8 general election — is to mobilize supporters for the release of Khan, who has been in jail since August last year. He was convicted in four cases since he was first taken into custody, all of which have been either suspended or overturned by the courts. Khan remains in jail, however, on new charges brought by the national accountability watchdog regarding the illegal sale of gifts from a state repository while he was prime minister from 2018-22.
“The basic purpose of this rally is to secure the release of Imran Khan from jail, restore the rule of law and initiate a genuine democratic process in this country,” PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen told Arab News on Sunday morning.
“Islamabad’s district administration has closed all entry and exit routes to the federal capital to prevent our supporters from reaching the venue,” Shaheen said, adding that despite the hurdles, hundreds of PTI caravans were en route to the designated venue for the rally from across Pakistan.
In this screengrab, taken from a video posted on social media platform X by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party worker Ahmad Hassan Bobak, party supporters leaving for Islamabad rally from Faisalabad on September 8, 2024, ahead of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party rally to press for his release. (Photo courtesy: Ahmed Bobak)
All metro bus services were suspended for Sunday, while Islamabad Expressway was closed at Khanna Bridge on both sides to Lehtrar Road, and only one lane was open at Faizabad. Bharakahu entry and exit were closed at Satra Meel point, while GT Road was closed for traffic on both sides at Sangjani. Rawat T Cross had also been closed, according to the Islamabad traffic police.
Only Margalla Road could be used to access the Red Zone, while Srinagar Highway was open for traffic on both sides and could be used to reach the Islamabad airport and the Rawalpindi railway station as well as M1 and M2 motorways.
The Islamabad police said the district administration had designated routes for the rally and prohibited travel to the venue through any other routes.
“Strict legal action will be taken over violation of the designated routes and the violators will be arrested immediately,” they said on X.
In this screengrab, taken from a video posted on social media platform X by Pakistani Journalist Abbas Shabbir, authorities block a key road in Islamabad on September 8, 2024, ahead of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakitan Tehreek-e-Insaf party rally to press for his release. (Photo courtesy: Abbas Shabbir)
A police spokesman said authorities had recovered a “suspicious bag” from near the rally venue in Sangjani containing hand grenades, detonators, electric wires and other explosive material. A bomb disposal squad had “neutralized” the materials and an investigation was underway.
“Further search operations are being conducted in view of the threat of terrorism at the gathering,” the police spokesman said. “Checking has been increased at the entrances and exits of the city. Citizens are requested to cooperate with the police during checking.”
To bolster security, a heavy contingent of law-enforcement personnel, including police, Rangers, and other paramilitary forces, have been stationed at the rally venue and across the capital.
“They [PTI] are holding a rally for what, Imran Khan’s release?” ruling party minister Azma Bukhari told reporters in Lahore. “Have you ever seen them talk about the problems of the common person?”
She added that the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had “no objections” to PTI holding the rally.
“We are not afraid of political rallies,” Bukhari said. “We are only concerned about their actions and background. They have been planted to create chaos in Pakistan … We will not allow them to create instability. No mischief, chaos or disorder will be permitted.”
“GRAND POWER SHOW”
Videos shared by the PTI on social media showed party caravans moving toward the federal capital while some supporters also posted images of cargo containers that had been used to seal off the city.
The Islamabad district administration said on Saturday the PTI rally would be held between 4 PM and 7 PM, specifying routes for participants arriving from different cities. It also said the party had been given conditional permission for the rally, warning its supporters against raising anti-state slogans or violating any laws.
“If SOPs [standard operating procedures] are violated at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally, the law will take its course,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon was quoted as saying in local media reports.
The rally is being held days after a bill was passed by both houses of parliament to “regulate” public rallies in Islamabad, empowering the district magistrate to ban such gatherings if required.
But the PTI says it expects a “grand power show” despite the hurdles.
“This jalsa [public gathering] marks the beginning of our wider and coordinated campaign against this incompetent government,” PTI’s Shaheen said.
“Our workers have begun reaching the venue, and we will hold the rally no matter what,” he added, warning authorities to avoid disrupting the “peaceful” gathering, which he described as the party’s democratic and constitutional right.
In this screengrab, taken from a video posted on social media platform X by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Karachi chapter, party leader Haleem Adil Sheikh leading a protest at a highway in Sindh province on September 8, 2024, ahead of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party rally in Islamabad to press for his release. (Photo courtesy: PTI Karachi)
The PTI says it has faced a months-long crackdown since protesters linked to the party attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after Khan’s brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
The party says it was not allowed to campaign freely ahead of the Feb. 9 general election, a vote marred by a mobile Internet shutdown on election day and unusually delayed results, leading to accusations that it was rigged and drawing concern from rights groups and foreign governments.
The PTI says it won the most seats but its mandate was “stolen” by Sharif’s coalition government which formed the government with the backing of the all-powerful military. Both deny the claim.
