Islamabad Tightens Security Ahead of PTI Protest

ISLAMABAD: Authorities have placed shipping containers across key roads in Islamabad as security preparations continue ahead of a planned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protest demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. The barriers have affected routes leading towards the capital’s Red Zone, where parliament, major government offices and foreign missions are located.

The protest was initially planned for September 27 but was later deferred to October 4. Despite the postponement, many containers remain positioned on roads and at important entry points, creating lane restrictions and forcing commuters to use alternative routes through Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi.

Khan has been in custody since 2023 and is serving prison terms in several cases. He and his party maintain that the cases are politically motivated. The federal government rejects that position and says the measures are necessary because of concerns about potential disruption and violence during demonstrations.

PTI leaders have said the restrictions hindered travel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the party is in government. They cited obstacles on routes used by supporters heading towards the capital, including the Attock Bridge corridor. The party says its intended gathering is peaceful and focused on seeking Khan’s release.

For residents and businesses, the security arrangements have brought familiar disruption. Narrowed roads, diversions and congestion have increased travel time for people moving between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Some shopkeepers near likely protest routes are also assessing whether to limit operations if tensions rise.

The continued deployment has highlighted the political pressure surrounding the planned march. With the protest date approaching, attention will remain on whether authorities ease the road restrictions, how PTI mobilises supporters, and whether both sides can prevent disruption to daily life in the capital.