Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Lockdown Friday, with roads sealed, communication lines cut and public movement at a standstill and all entrance points sealed. Police expect clashes with Tehreek-E-Labbaik’s (TLP) supporters on Multan Road after Friday prayers.
The Religious Party party has announced an anti-Israeli demonstration outside the US embassy in the federal capital today (Friday).
Hamas and Israel signed a ceasefire agreement on Thursday with Israeli captivity to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in the first phase in line with US Donald Trump’s 20-Boint initiative to end the war in Gaza. Islamabad has declared Trump’s plan as a “historical opportunity” for lasting peace in the Middle East.
Read: Mobile Data Services suspended as Twin Cities Brace to TLP Rally
Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry said TLP did not obtain the necessary permits to hold the rally.
On Thursday, police moved to the Raid TLP headquarters a little to arrest the Chief of the Religious Party Saad Rizvi and faced the retaliation of the party’s supporters. TLP members pelted police staff with stones, sticks and bars on Multan Road. Police accused with tear gas.
Gas masks, chemicals and other supplies were also seized from TLP workers, he said, addressing the press conference later that day, Chaudhry said. The party intended to use these during the rally, he added.
Section 144 is in effect in the two cities with a ban on public gatherings, competitions, protests, demon stations and assemblies in addition to a ban on pillow riding and inflammatory speeches.
City by standstill
At least 37 points above the city are blocked with containers, trailers and barriers. Public and private schools along Multan Road were instructed closed and universities over Twin Cities remained closed. Ambulances struggled to pass with Rawat, T-CHOWK and highway closed.
As many as 6,000 officers and staff are exposed to duty over Rawalpindi with Rawalpindi City police officer Syed Khalid Hamdani responsible. SP-ranked officers and above are armed, the rest is equipped with tear gas guns, rubber balls and 12-drilled shotguns, police said.
Police are deployed at Kalma Chowk, Rahimabad, Gulzar-E-Quaid, Sawan Pul and Adiala Road. Thirteen special police units and snipers are stationed along Murree Road from Shalimar Chowk to Faizabad.
Read more: Islamabad moves to avert TLP -Protest
Metro bus connections have been suspended, while the most important throughput roads and arteries along Murree Road, in Faizabad, around Moti Mahal Chowk, in Shamsabad, Dhoke Kala Khan, Ijp Road, Pandora Chungi, Khanna Pul and Chak Madad are sealed like everyone else connects roads to Islamabad.
The red zone and the expanded red zone are barricaded, and GT Road is blocked by Taxila Chowk, Brahma Interchange, Fateh Jang Toll Plaza, Chak Beli Morh, Gujar Khan, Mandra Toll Plaza and Chakwal Morh.
Complete closure of roads and intersections has paralyzed the city’s traffic system. Murree Road’s shutdown caused massive overload on side streets, with motorcycles and rickshaws that were crowded in narrow lanes, making it difficult for residents to go out.
Routine services in courts were relied on low participation in hearings by civil courts and police that were unable to produce inmates from Adiala Prison. At. At 9.30, district courts were unemployed, with writing reports describing Kachehri as “deserted”.
Prison cars were stationed at the intersection of Mareer Hassan, Liaquat Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Committee Chowk and Faizabad, among others.
The Senate Session, scheduled to today, postponed indefinitely after the required decision -making ability could not be met. “Most legislators couldn’t reach the Senate because roads are blocked because of a religious group’s activity in Islamabad,” said federal minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
