On Saturday, Pakistani authorities imposed prohibitory orders in Islamabad as jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party started nationwide protests against alleged rigging in the national elections. In Wana in South Waziristan of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the protests commenced with a march.
The cops in Islamabad have said that section 144 is in force in the city. Security is on high alert, “as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is set to start its protests” in the entire country, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The cops informed that special forces of the Counter Terrorism Department had been deployed on patrol to deal with any emergency. Across the district, patrolling has been increased while checking has been tightened at checkpoints, cops added.
Interestingly, Imran Khan’s PTI is not the only party that has expressed its concerns over the February 8 national elections. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), and others have also complained of rigging during the polls in the country.
No one would be permitted to assemble or protest at any place in the federal capital, Islamabad Police Inspector General (IG) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan has stressed.
Additional troops of Punjab Rangers have been directed to deal with any eventuality in Islamabad, said reports.