Normal life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been severely disrupted for the second consecutive day as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) protests continue to paralyse the twin cities.
Major highways and mobile services have been suspended, creating significant difficulties for citizens in both cities.
In Islamabad, mobile and internet services have been suspended, and Metro bus services have come to a halt, causing transportation woes. Containers have been placed at the key entry and exit points of the cities, including Faizabad, D Chowk, and 26 No Chungi, to control the flow of protesters.
The blockage of roads has resulted in severe traffic congestion, making commuting nearly impossible.
On Saturday evening, police started shelling in Jinnah Avenue and Blue Area, as a large number of PTI protesters pelted the forces with stones at China Chowk. On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reached Islamabad from Peshawar.
Severe clashes were reported to continue between the police and protesters on Jinnah Avenue as well, with police personnel resorting to shooting rubber bullets and tear-gas shelling near China Chowk, while the protesters pelted police with stones near Kulsoom Chowk. The protesters also set fire at different locations on the Jinnah Avenue.
On Saturday morning, complete silence was observed in D Chowk of Islamabad, as police and army troops patrol the area. The Islamabad police has so far restricted the PTI protesters to the stock exchange.
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The Red Zone of Islamabad is witnessing intense clashes between PTI workers and police, especially at D Chowk, where both the police and protesters are engaged in prolonged confrontations. PTI workers pelted stones at the police, while law enforcement responded with tear gas shelling. Despite multiple efforts to disperse the crowd, the protesters regrouped and launched fresh assaults, keeping the situation tense throughout the day.
The entrances to Islamabad remain blocked by containers, with roads such as the Express Highway, Blue Area and D Chowk plunged into darkness as street lights were switched off to control the protests. Faizabad, one of the central points of the protest, has become a hotspot for violent clashes, with police shelling continuing intermittently, and all roads of the area closed with containers.
The protests, which started last night, have led to the arrest of 20 to 25 PTI workers by the Islamabad police from 26 No Chungi. A large contingent of police, Anti-Riot Force, and Frontier Corps personnel has been deployed to maintain order, particularly in sensitive areas like Faizabad and D Chowk.
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Despite these measures, the protests show no sign of abating, with PTI workers determined to continue their demonstrations. The situation remains tense as authorities work to restore normalcy in the twin cities.
On Friday night, Pakistan Army troops officially took control of security in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution. According to official sources, the Interior Ministry ordered the deployment of the troops under the Constitution, while police and other institutions will also assist the army in carrying out security duties.
The sources said that the army deployment in and around the city has been completed, with a clear mandate to protect the lives and property of citizens and maintain law and order. The troops have taken positions in the D-Chowk area where the PTI had announced it will stage a protest demonstration on Saturday.
