Authorities called in the army in Islamabad and Lahore on Saturday to stop protests by former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party.
The protest was called by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder Khan, who has been lodged in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail for over a year.
Khan’s party is protesting in solidarity with the judiciary and against price rise.
Army personnel will be in the city from October 5-17 to maintain law and order in view of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
Pakistan is hosting the SCO summit on October 15-16. Cricketer-turned-political leader Imran Khan refused to postpone the protest despite the government’s call.
The deployment came as supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reached D-Chowk to take part in the protest.
Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are also demanding the release of Imran Khan.
Imran Khan’s party later claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Gandapur was arrested when he arrived in the capital to join the party’s protest.
However, Gandapur’s arrest has not been officially confirmed. “KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has been arrested from KP House in Islamabad,” the party said in a WhatsApp message.
Meanwhile, authorities on Saturday cut off Lahore from the rest of the country to prevent PTI supporters from gathering at the historic Minar-e-Pakistan to rally.
The PML-N government has called in the army to maintain law and order in Punjab province, especially the capital Lahore. All roads leading to the residence of the ruling Sharif family have also been closed.
Various parts of the city and all entry and exit points have been closed. There is a curfew-like situation around Minar-e-Pakistan, which has been closed to the general public indefinitely.
A large number of police forces have been deployed there. The government also suspended mobile phone and internet services in various parts of Lahore.
The Punjab government has detained more than 700 PTI workers from Lahore and elsewhere. The government says the armed forces will maintain law and order and provide security to foreign delegates.
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