Islamabad in 2024: A Year of Protests and Frequent Shutdowns

Islamabad:The year 2024 can perhaps be rightly called the year of **”Containers City”** for Islamabad, as the federal capital of Pakistan was repeatedly shut down due to various political events and protests. The city saw frequent use of containers to block roads, causing significant disruptions to the daily lives of its residents.

### **Frequent Shutdowns of Islamabad in 2024:**
The closures typically involved blocking **internal and external routes** of the city with containers, causing severe difficulties for citizens in carrying out their everyday activities. As a result, people started referring to Islamabad as **”Container City”**.

#### **Key Shutdown Dates:**

1. **November 24-27:**
Islamabad was partially shut down from **November 24 to November 27** due to a **long march** by **Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)**. The march, led by former Prime Minister **Imran Khan’s wife** and **Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur**, resulted in the closure of the city at **24 locations**. Heavy police presence and strict surveillance were deployed at the city’s entry and exit points. The **Islamabad Police** spent over **33 crore rupees** on managing the protests during this period.

2. **October 15:**
PTI had called for protests on **October 15**, coinciding with Pakistan’s hosting of the **23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit**. Although PTI later postponed the protest, the federal and Punjab provincial governments took stringent measures, including **military deployment**, **internet shutdowns**, and **blocking internal and external routes** of the city. Between **October 14 and October 17**, the **Pakistan Army** took charge of the city’s security, resulting in the closure of major markets, the **Metro Bus service**, and all **local transport**.

3. **October 4:**
PTI also called for a protest in **Islamabad** and **Lahore** on **October 4** over constitutional amendments. The city was once again blocked using containers. The protest was led by **Ali Amin Gandapur**, and the aim was to reach **D-Chowk**. At the time, **Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim** was visiting Pakistan, and the protest coincided with his departure. According to the **IGP office’s damage report**, the protest caused a **loss of approximately 24 crore rupees** and resulted in **one police officer martyred** and **31 injured**.

4. **September 28:**
PTI’s protest on **September 28** was held in **Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh**, but it caused significant disruptions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with **clashes between police and protesters**. The **Metro Bus** service was partially suspended, and all routes connecting the twin cities were blocked. Police used **tear gas** to disperse the protesters, and eventually, PTI announced the end of the protest.

### **Other Events and Protests:**
In addition to the planned protests, PTI also called for **nationwide protests** following the **2024 general elections**, leading to temporary disruptions in Islamabad. However, despite **traffic disruptions**, the city was not fully shut down by the administration in those instances.

### **Reasons for the Frequent Shutdowns:**
1. **PTI Protests:**
PTI’s repeated protests for various political demands, including issues of governance and constitutional amendments, were a major reason for the frequent shutdowns of Islamabad.

2. **Political Instability:**
The ongoing **political instability** and infighting between various political parties created a volatile environment, leading to security concerns and resulting in the government opting for shutdowns as a preventive measure.

### **Impact of the Shutdowns on the City:**

1. **Disruptions in Daily Life:**
Citizens faced immense challenges in getting to work, schools, and carrying out essential tasks. Traffic jams and road closures became a daily headache for many.

2. **Economic Loss:**
According to **Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb**, opposition protests led to an **economic loss of more than 190 billion rupees** daily. The lockdowns and protests caused a **drop in tax collections** and adversely affected businesses operating in the city.

3. **Social Discontent:**
The continuous **closures** led to a sense of **frustration** and **discontent** among the citizens of Islamabad. People expressed their dissatisfaction with the frequent disruptions, which affected their social and professional lives.

### **Conclusion:**
The year 2024 was marked by political unrest in Islamabad, with protests and shutdowns disrupting normal life. The frequent closures and use of containers as a means of blocking the city highlighted the **tensions** between political factions and the **government’s efforts** to control the situation. The consequences of these protests were felt not just in the city’s **economy** but also in the social fabric, where public dissatisfaction grew due to the inconvenience caused.