Mobile network services have been suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi since Friday morning to prevent a pre-announced rally of Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). All roads leading to the two cities, which are located in close proximity, have been closed. Section 144 has been issued in Islamabad since last Wednesday.
PTI called a rally in D-Chowk area of capital Islamabad today to demand the release of imprisoned Imran Khan. Imran Khan has urged his supporters to ‘protest peacefully’ from jail despite the restrictions and strictures of the authorities. Despite all the obstacles, his party has prepared for the rally.
According to Geo News, Imran Khan’s supporters have left for Islamabad from different directions, ignoring the obstacles.
The PTI has held several rallies across the country over the past few weeks to protest the ‘illegitimate’ imprisonment of Imran Khan. The election commission of Pakistan has been criticized for the implementation of ‘reserved seats’ from these rallies. A call has been made to save the constitution.
Earlier this month, PTI had announced the rally program in Islamabad and Lahore. But before these gatherings, the government had issued a set of strict guidelines. Clashes broke out between the group’s workers and the local authorities when the directives were not obeyed.
PTI reported that caravans of people have left from different cities for the rally in Islamabad today. But on Thursday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for no rally in Islamabad. Because there are many high-level foreign visits.
Influential politician of the country Maulana Fazlur Rahman urged PTI to postpone the rally in Islamabad due to the visit of important foreign dignitaries. Imran Khan’s party has recently increased contact with this veteran politician.
A representative of Dawn from Islamabad said that mobile network services have been stopped in Islamabad and Rawalpindi since this morning. Due to this, common people are in trouble. Especially those who have to work using this service, are facing more problems.
According to the information of the mobile network outage website Downdetector, outages have increased in the services of Pakistan’s mobile data network operator ‘Jung’ and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) since five o’clock in the morning today. There are more complaints of outages around Rawalpindi.
Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani said in a statement that security has been strengthened. Sitting on the back of a motorcycle is prohibited. Mobile networks and metro services have been announced to be closed for an indefinite period.
Officials said that all the roads inside the city of Islamabad may be closed after two o’clock local time today. This measure has been taken to prevent entry of PTI workers.
In a post on social media, Islamabad Police said that Section 144 has been imposed in the central capital (Islamabad). Citizens are requested not to participate in illegal gatherings. Action will be taken against those who violate peace and law and order.
Last Wednesday, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) imposed Section 144 and the Peaceful Assembly Act across the central capital. It also bans gatherings and processions in specific areas as part of heightened security.
