Authorities in Pakistan took significant measures on Friday to prevent an anti-government rally in Islamabad, organized by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In a move to maintain order, officials sealed off the capital and suspended cellphone services, marking the latest attempt to suppress protests calling for Khan’s release and opposition to the ruling coalition, which Khan’s party deems illegitimate following a disputed election.
Shipping containers were deployed to obstruct entry and exit points in Islamabad, with a heavy police and paramilitary presence ensuring compliance with a ban on public gatherings. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the government’s resolve to maintain order, stating, “If someone plans to storm Islamabad, we wouldn’t let that happen.”
He urged Khan’s supporters to postpone the rally to avoid disrupting preparations for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting on October 15-16, which will be attended by high-profile leaders, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Despite the government’s warnings, Khan encouraged his supporters to gather outside parliament, declaring, “I want you all to reach D-Chowk today for a peaceful protest rally. This war has entered a decisive phase.”Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, yet candidates aligned with him secured the most seats in the February general election, which were insufficient to form a government. Instead, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition took power.
As tensions rose, Islamabad police issued a stern warning against any actions that could disrupt public order, reiterating the ban on gatherings. Schools in the capital were closed, and cellphone services were disabled under directives from the interior ministry, although a ministry spokesperson did not comment on the situation.