ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began its much-awaited public meeting on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday, with the district administration putting security on high alert and blocking multiple arteries leading to the federal capital.
Party workers and supporters began gathering at the site, Sangjani village, with multiple convoys led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur heading towards Islamabad.
The former ruling party has postponed the public meeting twice, once in July and again in August, after the authorities revoked the permit. Following the recent postponement, the opposition party leadership faced harsh criticism from party leaders and workers for not being able to hold the public meeting.
The public rally began with PTI leader Hammad Azhar addressing the crowd and saying that the obstacles created by the incumbent rulers showed that they were afraid of the jailed Imran Khan and his supporters.
He also announced the launch of a movement in Punjab, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and urged party workers to “be prepared”.
Azhar, a former federal minister, noted that most of the PTI leaders in Punjab are in jail, and paid tribute to the jailed leaders including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Umar Sarfraz Cheema.
Political activist Sher Afzal Marwat also reiterated the same and said that they will soon hold rallies in Punjab for the release of jailed Imran and the supremacy of law and the Constitution.
“We will enter Punjab with 50,000 people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within a week,” he said, adding that they will even set out on foot and face tear gas.
'Explosives discovered'
Meanwhile, police recovered a suspicious bag near the PTI meeting venue in Sangjani. A hand grenade, a detonator, electric wires and other explosive materials were found in the bag, police said.
Police said the bomb disposal team was present at the scene and an investigation was underway.
The competent authority has directed police officers to remain within their jurisdiction, equip personnel deployed on duty with full gear and ensure that mobile phones are not used during duty hours.
To beef up security, a heavy contingent of law enforcement personnel, including police, rangers and paramilitary forces, will be deployed at the rally site and across the capital. These forces will be on alert to counter any possible violence arising from the PTI rally, officials said. The news.
Containers placed at key points
To maintain public order, containers have been placed at several key points to restrict traffic movement in the federal capital.
All routes leading to the red zone have been sealed with containers. Only relevant persons are allowed to take the Margalla Road route to enter the red zone. The arterial road from Chongi No. 26, GT Road Taxila, has also been closed.
The Islamabad Expressway has been closed from different points while Faizabad, Khanna Pull and Rawat T Chowk have also been blocked.
The closure of roads between Islamabad and Rawalpindi has created huge problems for residents of the twin cities, even though alternative routes have been arranged to facilitate the movement of people. Police have also been deployed on the alternative routes.
Moreover, the metro bus service from Rawalpindi's Saddar station to Pak Secretariat has been suspended due to the public meeting of the political party at Sangjani, on the directive of the district administration.
The rally site also features numerous mounds of sand, ditches and mud. The uneven and uneven terrain made it difficult for the organisers to place the chairs.
