Islamabad:The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has called for a protest today at D-Chowk in the federal capital. In anticipation of the demonstration, the city has sealed off internal access routes and suspended mobile phone services.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a stern warning, stating that no one would be allowed to storm Islamabad, and those violating the law during the PTI protest should not expect leniency.
Commentators are noting that the government’s heavy-handedness in blocking PTI convoys could escalate tensions, with some suggesting that this might lead the party to resort to more drastic measures as part of their “Plan B.”
One user questioned whether the government was afraid of a political party, highlighting the road closures and network shutdowns in response to the protest. Another user, Ahmad Mansoor, lamented that citizens in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were again confined to their homes, noting that while the government may not fall due to the protest, it certainly disrupts daily life for ordinary people.
Ahson Wahid criticized the government’s response, indicating that citizens were frustrated with the route closures and were blaming the government as they faced inconveniences at Zero Point.
The official PTI Twitter handle urged the government, which claims to champion democracy, to allow the public to hold rallies, asserting that protest is their right. They mentioned that a “prisoner number 804” was causing unrest.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stated that PTI supporters would reach D-Chowk at all costs, warning that any violence against their procession would be the responsibility of those who instigate it.
