Roads in Islamabad have been blocked and mobile internet services suspended ahead of a Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protest in the federal capital today.
The TLP has announced[1] plans for a massive anti-Israel demonstration outside the US embassy in the federal capital today. In anticipation of the protest, the Islamabad administration had started placing shipping containers at Faizabad Interchange — the historic site of several TLP sit-ins[2].
TLP protesters plan[3] to gather at Faizabad and then march towards the US embassy situated in the Diplomatic Enclave in the capital’s Red Zone area. The party has also requested the deputy commissioner of Islamabad to provide security to its rally.
TLP Naib Nazim-e-Ala in the Islamabad Zone Raja Aamir Shahzad, in a letter to the Islamabad’s deputy commissioner, said the party would hold a ‘Labbaik Al-Aqsa Million March’ on October 10 at 2pm from Faizabad to the US embassy.
“The TLP’s central and provincial leadership, along with workers, activists and members of the public from across the country, will participate in the march. I request you to provide security for the peaceful rally so that no untoward incident occurs,” he wrote in the letter.
Ahead of the protest, without naming the TLP, the US embassy in Islamabad posted on social media platform X that “the US consulates general in Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar are monitoring planned protest activity across Pakistan on October 10”.
“These protests may cause traffic delays/detours due to closed or blocked roads in the vicinity of the demonstrations. The duration of the protests is unknown. We advise US citizens to avoid large gatherings and remain aware of their surroundings,” the embassy said in the post.
Internet services suspended in twin cities
Meanwhile, it emerged earlier today that the Ministry of Interior had directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend 3G and 4G services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
A directive dated October 9 and addressed to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman stated the ministry had “accorded approval to suspend 3G/4G services in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, starting from 12am tonight till further orders.”
The missive, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, directed the PTA to take “further necessary action” in this regard in coordination with the Islamabad commissioner and police chief, and the Rawalpindi regional police officer.
The ministry did not provide a reason for suspending services, but the development does come amid verious other measures being taken by the authorities ahead of the TLP protest.
Traffic plan
Islamabad traffic police also issued a diversion plan, referring to the “law and order” situation in the Faizabad area.
The plan, posted on Islamabad police’s X account, said the entry of all heavy vehicles in the federal capital would not be allowed until further orders and detailed the diversion routes for smaller vehicles around the Faizabad area.
A Dawn report, citing sources, earlier said around 500 containers would be used to seal the Red Zone in Islamabad, covering Attaturk Avenue, Third Avenue, Margalla Road, and Khayaban-i-Suharwardy as well as the capital’s entry and exit points.
These containers were being placed at key locations, including Serena Chowk, Express Chowk, Nadra Chowk, Agha Khan Road near Marriott Hotel, Margalla Road near Trail 3 and Luqman Hakeem Road. Other blockades were being set up at Faisal Avenue’s Zero Point and Faisal Chowk, the report said.
It added that entry points into the capital from Rawat T-Cross, Chungi No 26 and Faizabad will also be sealed with containers. The metro bus and electric bus services on 21 different routes were suspended on Thursday evening and these would remain suspended today as well.
Some educational institutions also announced closures in view of the rally and the state’s preparations to counter it.
Security measures and arrests
Separately, according to a Dawn report[4], the capital police had started detaining local TLP leaders, activists and workers, taking into custody at least 280 people on Thursday.
The report said about 7,000 security personnel, including 5,500 policemen, 1,000 Frontier Constabulary and 500 Rangers, would be deployed across the capital to intercept the TLP gathering and maintain law and order. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and vehicles equipped with anti-riot gear, including tear gas shells and rubber bullets, would also be deployed at various locations.
To avoid any law and order situation in Rawalpindi, the city police and administration have imposed Section 144 till October 11 and sealed major entry and exit routes with more than 300 containers.
Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code is a legal provision that empowers district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period.
As part of the security plan, more than 6,500 police personnel, including 1,150 traffic police, contingents of Punjab Constabulary, and the newly formed Riot Management Police (RMP), have been deployed in Rawalpindi. Personnel from other districts have also been called in to assist the local force.
On Thursday, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that the government always allowed peaceful marchers and demonstration, however, the TLP had not sought permission for its protest in the capital.
Section 144 imposed in Punjab
Late on Thursday, violence had also broken out[5] in Punjab, after police launched a crackdown on the headquarters of TLP in a bid to arrest its chief, Saad Rizvi. The clashes left several people injured, including around a dozen policemen.
An October 8 order by the Punjab Home Department, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, says that Section 144 has been imposed in the province for 10 days.
The order states that the Punjab government has received credible reports from law enforcement and intelligence agencies indicating a “serious and imminent threat to public peace, tranquility, and the safety of life and property across the province”.
“Multiple credible threat alerts, regarding possible terrorist activities planned by hostile groups, including RAW, TTP, BLA, Daesh etc., aimed at targeting minorities or Muslim scholars to trigger sectarian unrest have been received. Assemblies, rallies, gathering, sit-ins, processions, demonstrations, jalsa, etc., could present a convenient target for such terrorist attacks and the possibility of an untoward incident cannot be ruled out.
“[…] There is a strong apprehension that certain political, sectarian or anti-social elements may engage in activities, assemblies, gatherings or demonstrations that are likely to cause a breach of public peace, disturb the public order and create a security risk for the general public and critical infrastructure,” the order read.
Apart from a ban on assembly of four or more persons, the order also places a restriction on carrying, brandishing and displaying arms in public spaces, a ban on “misuse of loudspeakers, public address systems and audio amplifying devices for provocative, sectarian or inflammatory content”, and a ban on publishing, disseminating of displaying provocative, hateful or sectarian material.
A notification by the University of Punjab, also available with Dawn.com, said that the varsity would remain closed today, as per the instructions of the government.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Punjab Public Service Commission’s media and production deputy director said exams for the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority Sub-Divisional Officer’s post, scheduled for Oct 11 and 12, had been postponed following the imposition of Section 144. The statement, however, did not specify a new date for the exams.
Additional reporting by Nauman Liaquat