With strict security in place, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has vowed to “protect Islamabad” as PTI convoys from various cities made their way to the capital for the party’s much-anticipated protest called for by its founder Imran Khan.
On Nov 13, Imran issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24 (today), denouncing what he described as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people and the passage of the 26th amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that PTI’s planned protest is unlawful and directed the federal government to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in Islamabad without disrupting public life, particularly as the Belarusian president is scheduled to arrive over the weekend with a high-profile delegation.
Speaking at D-Chowk, the final destination of PTI’s main convoy, Naqvi said, “One option is that we let them come and […] paralyse Islamabad. The other option is to protect Islamabad.”
“Mobile services are working. The Internet has been shut down,” the minister said.
Despite the security apparatus in place, Naqvi maintained that the blockades were “not as bad as last time” and that the government was trying to give as much relief as possible to those inconvenienced.
“The area where they (the PTI) have called the protest is a protected area of Islamabad, monitored by the IG and DIG,” Naqvi said. “Any protesters who enter that area will be arrested.”
Referring to the arrival of a Belarusian delegation in the capital, Naqvi said PTI supporters were coming on to the route through which the delegation was supposed to pass.
He criticised the PTI for organising protests today instead of attending the funerals being held in Kurram, referring to violent clashes there in the past few days.
Addressing the PTI demonstrators, he said: “If you wish to protest, that is your right, but you know exactly who is coming and you have been blocking off roads and causing trouble.”
A day ago, the interior ministry said that WiFi and mobile internet services would be suspended only in areas with “security concerns” and remain operational as normal in the rest of the country.
