Pakistan Seals Islamabad Roads Ahead of Imran Khan Supporters’ Protest

Pakistani authorities have begun closing major roads leading into the capital, Islamabad, ahead of a planned protest by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Police said on Wednesday that the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway, Islamabad-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway and Grand Trunk Road would be closed at several points from the evening. Authorities advised residents and travellers to make alternative arrangements.

According to Dawn, the road closures are expected to remain in place indefinitely as the government seeks to prevent supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party from marching into Islamabad on September 27.

The protesters are demanding Khan’s release. He has been in prison since August 2023 following a series of convictions, which his party says were politically motivated. Most of the convictions have since been suspended or overturned on appeal, with one remaining in force.

Authorities have reportedly deployed around 2,000 shipping containers around Islamabad and at Attock Bridge, while containers and sandbags have also been placed at other key crossings. Nearly 30,000 security personnel have reportedly been deployed in the Attock district.

PTI says peaceful protest is a constitutional right and insists that the planned demonstrations are aimed at securing Khan’s release and defending the constitution.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had earlier warned the party against proceeding with the protest, urging its leaders to reconsider their plans.

Meanwhile, police arrested Khan’s sister Aleema Khan at her home in Lahore on Sunday under a public order law. Two other sisters, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, were also arrested alongside several relatives.

Another opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami, had separately begun a march from Karachi to Islamabad over high fuel prices. However, its leader, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, later announced that the march would be postponed following a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for a meeting.

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