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PTI protest paralyzes Islamabad, Rawalpindi; roads blocked, internet suspended

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PESHAWAR + LAHORE   (   WEB  NEWS  )

A large convoys of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and opposition leader Omar Ayub, encountered intense tear gas shelling from law enforcement as it entered into Punjab on its way towards Islamabad.

The convoys, departing from Swabi, moved steadily into Punjab territory but was met with police resistance near the Attock Bridge, Chach Interchange, and Ghazi Barotha Canal, where officers used heavy tear gas to disperse PTI supporters.

In a brief address to the crowd before departing Swabi, the Chief Minister urged party members to move forward, declaring, “We must advance and not turn back until Imran Khan is released.” Later, at a brief halt at Ghazi, he rallied supporters, telling them to “prepare, as we will need to confront further resistance ahead.”

We are coming and will go back only with Imran Khan: Bushra Bibi

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, voiced frustration with delays in the PTI convoy, calling on supporters to push forward.

As the convoy led by the Chief Minister halted briefly at Ghazi Bridge near Attock, Bushra Bibi addressed supporters from her vehicle, urging them to avoid unnecessary pauses.

“Time is being wasted,” she said, using a microphone from her car. “Stay in your vehicles so we can reach there quickly.”

The convoy, temporarily paused as Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur advised supporters to rest before anticipated confrontations, saw mixed reactions from members.

Bushra Bibi’s message was clear, however: “We are here to bring Khan back. Let’s move without delay,” she directed, encouraging supporters to remain focused on the objective of securing Imran Khan’s release.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set to march towards Islamabad and hold a protest at D-Chowk today, following a call by party founder Imran Khan.

The party, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has called on the public to join the march to “break the shackles of slavery.” Imran Khan, in a statement, urged the masses to unite for the protest, calling it a movement for freedom and justice.

In related developments, PTI’s chief whip Aamir Dogar and party leader Zain Qureshi have been arrested by Punjab Police.

According to Express News, both leaders were detained at the Qadirpurra Toll Plaza in Multan. The arrests come amid heightened security and political tensions as PTI proceeds with its protest plans.

Meanwhile, the government has taken several steps to block the protest, including deploying heavy security forces, sealing key roads, and setting up barriers around the capital. The Interior Ministry has emphasized that, in accordance with court orders, no protests or sit-ins will be allowed in Islamabad, and any attempts to disrupt public order will be met with legal action.

PTI leadership has announced plans to gather at specific locations before marching to Islamabad, where they intend to hold a sit-in at D-Chowk. Despite government efforts to block access to the city, the party has vowed to continue their protest and push for the release of Imran Khan and other demands.

Gandapur, in a statement, affirmed that PTI will remain at D-Chowk until their demands are met, regardless of roadblocks or containers obstructing their path.

“We will bring our own private machinery to remove obstacles and reach Islamabad,” Gandapur declared.

In preparation for the protest, Islamabad’s federal government has fortified security measures, sealing off several key roads and blocking routes leading to the Red Zone, where critical government buildings are located.

Containers have been placed across the city, including along the Srinagar Highway, GT Road, and the Expressway, limiting access to strategic areas like D-Chowk, Islamabad Airport, and the A-11 point at New Margalla Road.

Rangers, along with police and Frontier Constabulary (FC), have been deployed to monitor the area. The federal government has also warned against any unlawful protests, stating that no one will be permitted to hold a demonstration in violation of judicial orders, with legal action promised against any violators.

Rawalpindi: In response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad, authorities have completely sealed the entry and exit points of the twin cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. PTI is all set to hold a countrywide protest today on the call of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Containers have been placed on major routes, including Faizabad Flyover, with heavy police deployment in the area.  Key roads such as Murree Road, Motorway, Rawat, T-Chowk, Taxila, Margalla, and Mandrah have been blocked, along with major highways like Murree Expressway, Hazara Expressway, and connecting roads from Punjab. Over 6,000 police personnel have been deployed across Rawalpindi, with security arrangements tightened. Police conducted raids throughout the night to detain PTI workers, resulting in the arrest of over 170 activists from various areas. Prisoner transport buses have been brought into the city to manage detainees. Emergency measures have been implemented in hospitals, and rescue agencies have been put on high alert. Additionally, mobile internet services have been suspended in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock to prevent the spread of protest-related information.

In response to the PTI protests, Pakistan Railways has suspended all train services between Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Train services have been halted on the routes between Peshawar and Rawalpindi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, as well as Multan and Faisalabad to Rawalpindi. Railway officials confirmed that all 25 train tickets for Sunday, November 24, have been canceled. Passengers who had booked tickets for the day will be refunded immediately. To ensure security, a heavy police presence has been deployed at railway stations, and entry to stations has been completely shut down. Passengers will receive ticket refunds at temporary counters set up at the stations.

Bushra Bibi joins Gandapur’s convoy heading towards Islamabad

 Convoys for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ( PTI) protest are making their way towards Islamabad on Sunday, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur leading a convoy, along with Bushra Bibi, from Peshawar to Swabi.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed that Bushra Bibi is also part of the PTI protest convoy, and she is traveling in a separate vehicle.  In a post on social media website X, he wrote that the convoy, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has already set off towards Islamabad. He added that Bushra Bibi, traveling alongside party workers, could not leave workers alone at this crucial moment. She emphasised that if PTI expected families to join the workers in the protest, then Imran Khan’s family would be the first to lead by example.

According to Akram, she expressed the confidence that under Imran Khan’s leadership, the goals of the march would be successfully achieved.  Additional convoys from other regions are expected to join Gandapur in Swabi, after which the combined convoys will head towards Islamabad under Gandapur’s leadership. As the convoys move toward the capital, security has been heightened in Islamabad in preparation for the protest.

Pakistan’s capital was put under a security lockdown on Sunday ahead of protests by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan calling for his release. Highways leading to Islamabad through which supporters of Khan, led by members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, are expected to approach the city and gather near the parliament, have been blocked.

Police arrest Aamir Dogar, Rai Hassan & Zain Qureshi while going to PTI protest

Police have started arresting PTI leaders and workers attempting to participate in the Islamabad protest. According to media reports, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Aamir Dogar from Multan was arrested while on his way to Islamabad and taken to an undisclosed location. Additionally, Zain Qureshi, Moeenuddin Qureshi, and Rana Tufail Noon were also taken into custody. PTI MNA from Chichawatni, Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, was also arrested, with police taking him along with his vehicle. Meanwhile, according to police, 27 teams conducted a search operation in various areas of Islamabad last night and arrested more than 200 PTI workers, including women.

Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad police Ali Nasir Rizvi, meanwhile, said that the force had prepared a comprehensive security plan to protect lives and property of citizens. He warned that those who harm citizens and made mischief would be dealt with iron hand. Regarding closure of roads, IG Rizvi said there was no problem for those coming from and going to the airport. If any road is closed, one lane is kept open along with it.

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