Islamabad (Web Desk): A big convoy of supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and opposition leader Omar Ayub, encountered fierce resistance as they moved towards Islamabad.
The convoy, which had set off from Swabi, was met with tear gas from law enforcement agencies as it entered Punjab, particularly near key locations like Attock Bridge, Chach Interchange, and Ghazi Barotha Canal.
Ali Amin Gandapur, in an earlier speech before leaving Swabi, urged the party members to keep pushing forward. "We will not turn back until Imran Khan is freed," he told the crowd, rallying them to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.
Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, expressed frustration over the slow progress of the convoy. As the march paused temporarily at Ghazi Bridge, she addressed supporters from her vehicle, urging them not to waste time. “We need to keep moving,” she said, pushing for a quick arrival in Islamabad.
The convoy, however, had been slowed by Gandapur's advice for a brief rest, causing mixed reactions among the supporters.
In her speech Bushra Bibi said, "We are here to bring Khan back, and we must continue without delay."
The PTI protest was part of a larger campaign calling for the release of Imran Khan and addressing several demands, including the reversal of the 26th constitutional amendment and the restoration of their perceived rightful mandate.
The protest, set to culminate at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, followed a call by Khan, urging the public to join calling the activity as movement for justice and freedom.
However, in anticipation of the protest, the government had already begun reinforcing security, including the deployment of police, Rangers, and Frontier Constabulary forces, in an effort to block PTI's entry into Islamabad. Heavy barricades, including shipping containers, were placed on major roads, particularly around the sensitive Red Zone, where government offices are located.
In the lead-up to the protest, the authorities arrested several PTI leaders, including Aamir Dogar and Zain Qureshi, at the Qadirpurra Toll Plaza in Multan.
The arrests came amid rising tensions as PTI leaders vowed to proceed with their march regardless of the government's attempts to disrupt their plans.
Gandapur declared that PTI would remain at D-Chowk until their demands were met, even if they had to bring in their own machinery to remove the obstacles blocking their way.
The government had already taken measures to restrict movement within the capital, sealing off roads and cutting off access to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Major routes were blocked, including the Srinagar Highway, GT Road, and the Expressway, with police and paramilitary forces on high alert.
The closures left commuters stranded, as buses and other forms of public transport were severely disrupted, adding to the public's frustration.
To tackle any situation of unrest, the authorities put the hospitals on high alert, and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) issued a warning about possible terrorist threats targeting PTI's protest.
With the streets of Islamabad turned into a virtual fortress, the government remained firm in its stance, insisting that any attempt to hold protests in violation of the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) orders would result in legal action.
Despite these efforts, PTI remained resolute, continuing to rally its supporters to press for the release of their leader and the fulfillment of their political demands, undeterred by the security measures or the arrests of key figures.
The Ministry of Interior has confirmed that mobile data and internet services may be temporarily suspended in high-risk areas to maintain security during the upcoming protests.
This measure is aimed at facilitating effective security operations and mitigating potential disturbances linked to the demonstration.
However, regular mobile and internet services will continue uninterrupted in other parts of the country.
This targeted shutdown reflects the authorities' efforts to prevent any disruptions in the high-risk zones while minimizing impact on the broader population.
