Islamabad sealed off, Internet and Mobile Phone Services Suspended Amid PTI Protest

The capital city has been completely sealed off, and mobile services have been suspended in response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ongoing protest at D-Chowk. The widespread closures have caused a lot of inconveniences both for locals and commuters.

Public confusion and frustration are increasing in Islamabad as all major routes towards D-Chowk have been closed due to the continuation of the PTI protest. Large containers have been placed at strategic areas where people congregate especially at the city’s entrance and exits to avoid gatherings, which has made life more difficult for the citizens.

The Islamabad administration sealed all the main entry and exit points of the city. According to the district administration and police records, New Margalla Road, Sangjani Toll Plaza, Water Tank Margalla Road Bund, New Margalla Loop, F-10, 26-Chongi, Zero Point, Khayaban Chowk, Faisal Chowk, Bri Imam T-Cross, Express Chowk, Serena Chowk, Rawat T-Cross, Khanna Pul, Lahtrar Road, Murree Road near Traffic Office, 9-Avenue, Golra Mor, Motorway Old Toll Plaza, Tarnool Chowk, Chauhar Chowk, and Peshawar Motorway Flyover were completely sealed.

Cellular Services Suspended in Islamabad

Besides the inconvenience to the public, mobile phone services have been suspended in some important areas and many people including protestors cannot use their mobile phones.

The schools across Islamabad have also been shut down due to security reasons and several government and private offices are either closed or employees have been asked to work from home. The city is still under lockdown, and the people are finding it hard to deal with the many losses they are experiencing.

In a high-stakes move, the federal cabinet has allowed the use of the army in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution. The military has been assigned to guard government installations and the Red Zone while Rangers are already deployed in the city and are also enhancing security measures.

More than 4,000 policemen from Rawalpindi and Islamabad have also been deployed for this purpose as the city is witnessing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protest. Approaches to Islamabad have been closed in effort to ensure that protestors do not access areas such as the Red Zone and government facilities.

Despite the heavy security presence, PTI leaders remain defiant, some of them vowed to get to D-Chowk at any cost even if they are arrested. The situation in the city continues to tense, which has led to multiple disruptions of daily life causing citizens to become more frustrated.

Authorities have imposed Section 144 to restrict the assembly of people and the police have threatened to act as soon as there is any violation of security. Some measures are being taken to ensure that there is law and order during the protest.

Police are conducting several raids throughout Islamabad in preparation for the PTI protest. Up to the present, 412 people including street vendors, beggars and motorcyclists have been arrested with most of them arrested in Bahara Kahu, Tarnol and Sangjani.Police say that those arrested are workers of PTI and they have seized sticks, slingshots, and stones, which the arrested persons allegedly planned to use during the protest.

In a major disruption to public transport, all the Metro bus services have been shut down in the capital today. This shutdown also includes the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi; the Metrobus service that runs from Rawalpindi railway station up to the Pakistan Secretariat has been totally suspended. It is even more complicated because the commuters are struggling to look for other means of transport, making the situation in the area even worse.

The Islamabad district administration put a ban on pillion riding in a bid to ensure that there is law and order in the region for the next two days. The ban came into force at midnight and affects all motorcyclists in the city. Anyone found violating the rules will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law as the city implements measures to protect residents, according to administration.