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Authorities have closed all exit and entry points of the federal capital by placing containers as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a protest rally at D-Chowk today (Friday).
Entry and exit on Motorway M-1 from Islamabad have also been shut down. The entry points to the Red Zone in Islamabad have also been blocked with containers, and routes including Faizabad, Sector I-8, IJ Principal Road, and Margalla Road have also been closed.
Murree Road, the Islamabad Expressway, Sangjani, Sector G-11 Chowk, Golra Mor, and 26 Number Chowki are all closed.
The administration has heightened security in Rawalpindi, deploying 4,000 personnel and officers. Mobile services are suspended in the twin cities.
The Metro bus administration said the service will not operate from Rawalpindi Saddar to IJ Principal Road. In contrast, the service from IJ Principal Road to the Pakistan Secretariat will remain operational. It means residents of Rawalpindi will not be able to use the metro bus service today.
The president of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association for Northern Punjab, Abrar Ahmed, stated that all private educational institutions in Rawalpindi City will remain closed today due to the potential protest by a political party in Islamabad.
The Islamabad Private Schools Association has also decided to close schools in the federal capital. General Secretary of the Private Schools Association, Waheed Khan, emphasized that the safety of children is our top priority.
On the other hand, sources have claimed the federal authorities were in contact with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who had announced to lead multiple convoys from Peshawar to attend the PTI’s planned protest at the D-Chowk.
The federal government’s representatives asked the provincial chief executive to postpone the protest as it will coincide with the final day of the Malaysian prime minister’s visit to Pakistan. The claim was confirmed by provincial minister, Muhammad Zahir Shah, who said that Gandapur was adamant on holding the protest as scheduled.
