Islamabad, Oct 10: Pakistani authorities on Friday closed major roads leading to the capital and suspended mobile internet services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to prevent a protest march by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a right-wing extremist group.
The TLP had announced a march in Islamabad against the killings in Gaza, coinciding ironically with a truce in the region. In response, the Ministry of Interior deployed shipping containers to block main roads and directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend mobile internet services indefinitely from 12 a.m. Thursday night.
Police sources confirmed that city entry and exit points were closed, and mobile internet services were suspended to curb communication among protesters. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers in riot gear were stationed at key entry points, and the Red Zone, which houses government offices and diplomatic missions, was fully sealed.
The developments follow a Punjab police raid on TLP headquarters in Lahore on Wednesday to arrest the party chief, which led to violent clashes between police and party members, injuring several people.
In a related measure, the Rawalpindi district administration imposed Section 144 on Thursday, banning protests, sit-ins, gatherings, processions, and rallies until October 11. The use of loudspeakers was also prohibited, citing the risk of violent acts near sensitive installations, according to a notification from Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema.
The TLP, a hardline Sunni Islamist group, first gained prominence in 2017 when it forced the government to reverse changes in the oath-taking procedure of parliamentarians through large-scale protests.
Authorities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi remain on high alert, with police and administrative officials actively monitoring sensitive areas and key installations to prevent escalation during the planned demonstrations. (Agencies)
