Army soldiers guard Islamabad, Lahore sealed ahead of PTI protest

Following the call given by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for a protest demonstration in Lahore today, the police have sealed all entry and exit points of the city while the Army troops have taken positions in Islamabad as part of unprecedented security measures to guard the federal capital, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Army troops took over security responsibilities in Islamabad after the Interior Ministry has issued orders for the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution, and the deployment of Army troops in the federal capital and surrounding areas has been completed.

The Army troops took over security of the D-Chowk and has begun patrolling across the area in ensure safety of citizens and maintain law and order.

A contingent of Army troops called in from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been positioned behind the protesters currently stuck in Attock.

Srinagar Highway dug from several points

The Srinagar High was dug from several points near Chungi Number 26 with the help of heavy machinery to maintain law and order situation and to tackle PTI protest rally.

Fresh contingents of Pakistan Army, Frontier Constabulary (FC), Islamabad Police and Rangers reached Chungi No. 26.

Sources said that around 20 Islamabad policemen were injured while rescuing colleagues faced hurdles to shift the injured cops to a nearby hospital.

Gandapur reaches KP House after clashes

KP CM Gandapur, who, along with thousands of PTI workers, had left Peshawar for Islamabad yesterday, has at last reached the KP House, not far frp, the D-Chowk, the site of the party’s sit-in in the federal capital.  

However, it was not a cakewalk for him and the members of his caravan as they had to face shelling and teargassing by the Islamabad police and Rangers. 

The PTI protestors responded by throwing stones at the law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) personnel, injuring scores of them.

Lahore sealed

A showdown between the PTI and the Punjab government in Lahore today appears almost certain as the party plans to hold a protest rally at Minar-i-Pakistan.

Containers have been placed at Babu Sabu Interchange and Thokar Niaz Beg in Lahore in order to prevent the entry of people from Islamabad and upper parts of the country in the provincial capital.   

Similarly, containers have also been placed on Ring Road and roads in Shahdara locality of the city.

Likewise, routes leading to Azadi Chowk and Greater Iqbal Park have also been sealed as the police have set up their temporary checkposts there.

On the other hand, PTI’s local leaders have gone into hiding to evade arrests.

Sheikh Imtiaz, Hafiz Farhat Abbas, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hammad Azhar and others are nowhere to be seen.

Section 144 imposed until October 8

The Punjab government has also imposed section 144 in the provincial capital until October 8 to prevent congregations of people, while the police have been ordered to ensure that the law and order situation does not deteriorate come what may.

Pakistan Rangers’ personnel have also been deployed to assist the police in enforcing the writ of the state.

Anti-Riots Force has also been put on a high alert.

Police vans have been parked while additional police contingents have been deployed in sensitive areas.  

Police round up over 600 PTI workers

Meanwhile, police in overnight raids arrested over 600 party workers from different parts of the city.

The Force raided different hotels and took into custody dozens of outsiders who could not explain the reason for their stay in the city.

Scores of such people were arrested from a hotel in Muslim Town and were put in a police lockup.  

However, four of them later turned out to be the workers of JUI-F, prompting the party’s General Secretary Abdur Rehman to reach Wahdat Road police station and securing their release.

15,000 cops deployed in Lahore

As many as 15,000 officers and officials of police were deployed for maintaining law and order situation during PTI protest in Lahore.

In this regard, the IG office has provided 433 women personnel and 20 elite vehicles.

Lahore Police got two extra water cannons while 20 prisoner vehicles were also provided.

FIR against PTI workers

Rawalpindi police has registered a first information report (FIR) against 17 PTI workers and 250 other people at Police Station Sadiqabd for holding protest rally near Faizabad.

Police sources said that these cases were registered under anti-terrorist act and interference in government’s affairs act.

Minar-e-Pakistan sealed

Police blocked all the roads leading to Minar-e-Pakistan Ground by placing containers on major highways, barbed wire was installed on the streets.

Prisoners' vans and tear gas shells were brought to Minar-e-Pakistan Ground.

Police also issued warning to those who try to break the law under the guise of protest in the city.

DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Karim said that anyone who joins the protest will face strict legal action

DIG Operations has implemented a coordinated plan to stop mischief under the guise of protests across the city.

Anti-rights force has assumed its position, DIG said adding additional force has been deployed after identifying all potential protest sites.

DIG Operations said that vehicles of prisoners have also been delivered along with water cannon.

Violators of Section 144 anywhere will face jail and prosecution, DIG Operations further said.

DIG Operations Faisal Kamran said that we will deal with those who create obstacles for citizens and those who damage government and civic property will be behind bars.

He said strict legal measures will be taken for the safety of the city and citizens.

In view of the PTI protest, a heavy police force has been deployed at Lahore Liberty Chowk and containers and vans of prisoners were delivered around Liberty Square.

Moreover, containers were erected around the walled city, Sagiyan Shahdara, Gamay Shah and Mohini Road were also closed with containers.

Roads adjacent to Karim Block, Kacha Ravi Road and Azadi Chowk are also completely closed and there are containers on both sides of the new Ravi Bridge.

Only one lane is open for traffic on both the roads of Sagiyan Bridge, Shahdara, Azadi Chowk and Lorry Adda.

Thokar Niaz, entrance and exit of Motorway and Ring Road closed and the roads from Thokar Niaz Beg to the city is also closed.

Metro Bus Service restricted

Metro Bus Service will only be operational between MAO College to Gajju Matta in Lahore. The bus service will remain suspended from MAO College to Shahdara due to PTI protest plan. The Metro Bus Service will start its operations on the above-mentioned routes from 6 am tomorrow.  

Passengers were facing difficulties and problems due to the suspension of the bus servince.

Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor, Usman Khan, Tayyab Saif, Rana Faran Yamin, Ali Sahi, Ershad Qureshi and Dur-e-Nayab