The federal government has turned Islamabad into a fortress as Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran leader Dr Tahirul Qadri has started his long march from Lahore on Sunday.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik visited Blue Area and monitored security arrangements and containers installed on roads to block the marchers from reaching Red Zone.
Talking to reporters, Malik said Dr Qadri was trying to delay the upcoming polls, adding that the long march was an effort to derail democratic system.
Warning Qadri not to breach law, he said that rule of law would be maintained and no violators would be tolerated, adding that it was the government’s prime responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people in Islamabad.
Referring to Dr Qadri’s charter of demand, Malik said that the dissolution of Election Commission of Pakistan means a delay of another six months in the general elections.
“I request Qadri not to test the patience of the government as well as the nation,” Malik said.
The minister maintained that the democratic system would prevail in the country and Dr Qadri’s agenda for derailing the system would not be successful.
“If Qadri was conversant with the constitution spirit, he should not have talked in such a manner which is extra-constitutional. Qadri should not mislead the nation,” Mailk added.
He said that the long march participants would be asked to stage a sit-in at Faisal Avenue – between the Stock Exchange and Saudi Pak towers – whereas they could park their cars in F-9 Park.
“However they will not be permitted to cross the Saudi-Pak tower,” he said.
To a question, he said that five terrorists have been arrested from Karachi who were planning to attack the marchers.
The federal government has called in 10,000 security personnel from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 5,000 Rangers and army officials are on high alert. Stay and dine arrangements have made for the troops in the Sports Complex.
CCTV cameras have been installed from Faizabad to Red Zone.
Sources told Pakistan Today that the government had directed the Pakistan Telecom Authority to suspend mobile services in the twin cities from Monday (today) to prevent any untoward incident.
Police and other law enforcers have sealed the Red Zone by placing containers, cement blocks and barbed wire closing every road and street leading to the zone Presidency, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the Supreme Court and the Diplomatic Enclave.
Sources said that law enforcers have been provided with ammunition, rubber bullets and tear-gas shells.
A source in the Finance Ministry said the Interior Ministry had requested to provide Rs 250 million to the Islamabad chief commissioner, adding that Rs 50 million worth ammunition has been provided to the law enforcers.
Roads adjacent to the Quaid-e-Azam University have been closed. The Federal Directorate of Education and private schools associations have issued directions to keep all educational institutions, colleges and universities closed on Monday (today).
The Quaid-e-Azam University will stay closed today (Monday) where as International Islamic University (IIU) has issued a notification cancelling all examinations scheduled to be held between Januray13 and January 15.
On the other hand, hundreds of Tehreek Minhajul Quran workers have already reached the twin cities.
The federal government is also worried about Shia protest camps in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, as thousands of mourners took to streets to protest against Quetta killings.
Around 4,000 protesters are present at Faizabad camp. A majority of them are workers of the Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen – a Shia party which has already announced to support Dr Qadri’s long march.
