The government has decided to dig trenches on roads connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with Islamabad to prevent protesters from entering the capital, the private media outlet reported.
Sources said the government has surveyed several routes from KP to Islamabad ahead of planned rallies by political groups, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
According to sources, authorities plan to dig trenches on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road and at Chungi No. 26, Pirwadhai, I.J. Principal Road, Aswal Mor and Kati Pahari.
The government also plans to place barriers and barricades on major routes leading to Islamabad from KP.
Meanwhile, JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Sunday that the party’s long march towards Islamabad had begun.
Speaking to the media at Karachi Cantt railway station, Hafiz Naeem said the government should provide relief to the people and withdraw the petroleum development levy (PDL).
He said the JI would continue its protest until the government withdrew the levy.
“If the levy continues, our protest will intensify,” Hafiz Naeem said, adding that no obstacle would stop the march.
The JI chief also warned that the situation could become difficult if the protesters reached Islamabad.
The party has launched a nationwide protest campaign against the PDL, including sit-ins and a long march towards Islamabad.
Hafiz Naeem said the party had completed preparations for the Islamabad march scheduled for September 20. He criticised the government for offering Rs25 billion in monthly relief while refusing to withdraw the petroleum levy.
He also claimed that the government had collected Rs1,567 billion in petroleum levy during the previous year.
