As supporters of the former prime minister organise a march to demand his release, authorities in Islamabad suspend internet and cellphone services.
To stop supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan from marching to Islamabad as part of the countrywide demonstrations calling for his release, Pakistan’s capital has been placed under a tight lockdown.
In preparation for the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s planned statewide “final call” rallies, authorities blocked highways leading to Islamabad and halted internet and mobile services in “areas which present security concerns.”
In order to prevent the march from reaching the parliament, the government has also blocked the majority of Islamabad’s main roadways with shipping containers and stationed sizable police and paramilitary contingents in riot gear.
The Islamabad police said in a statement that all types of gatherings are prohibited by law.
In response to what it claims was a fraudulent election earlier this year, the PTI has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s present administration and the release of all of its leaders, including Khan.
In a Saturday video message, Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and a close Khan adviser, stated, “Khan has called on us to remain there till all our demands are met.”
Gandapur is anticipated to lead the biggest convoy into Islamabad, urging people to congregate close to “D Chowk,” the city’s red zone entry.
The nation’s parliament building, key government buildings, embassies, and offices of international organisations are all located in Islamabad’s red zone.
Kamal Hyder of Al Jazeera, reporting from Islamabad, said the blocking of all major routes and motorways was unprecedented.
Comprehensive security measures have been implemented to deter the demonstrators, some of whom have already been taken into custody.
According to reports, followers of the former prime minister are travelling from all across the nation, with some even using boats and dinghies to cross a river because important crossings are closed.
Therefore, a sizable gathering of demonstrators is expected. Another worry is how security will handle them,” he stated.
WhatsApp services restricted
In a late Saturday post on X, Pakistani officials stated that communication services will continue to run regularly across the remainder of the nation. Neither the duration of the ban nor the regions that would be impacted were specified.
Live measurements revealed WhatsApp messaging services had been banned before to the protests, according to global internet monitor NetBlocks on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Authorities also banned social media sites and targeted VPN providers, according to NetBlocks.
To stop a pro-Khan demonstration last month, officials in Rawalpindi and Islamabad shut down cell phone service. The stoppage impacted regular services like food delivery, ride-hailing, and banking and interfered with communications.
Supporters of Khan mostly rely on social media to call for his release and to disseminate information, including event details, via messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Khan was deposed from power in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence. He was accused and imprisoned by the government in hundreds of instances, including terrorism and sedition. The PTI claims that Khan’s continued incarceration is a ruse to keep him from regaining power, despite the fact that he has been granted bail and even cleared in many cases.
Khan and his party claim that the cases are politically motivated and refute all of the accusations.
The public strongly supports the politician who was formerly a cricket player. During his brief detention in May of last year, PTI supporters protested across the country. Attacks on military posts and governmental buildings intensified the protests, leading to thousands of arrests. However, only around 100 individuals were sent to military courts.