Several roads in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been blocked with trawlers on Wednesday ahead of the protests and long march planned by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Which Islamabad and Rawalpindi roads have been blocked?
The entrance to Gulzar-e-Quaid on Old Airport Road has been closed with trawlers. Traffic has also been affected at Faizabad.
Faizabad has been blocked on both sides towards Rawalpindi. Commuters have been advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
The highway from Islamabad towards Khanna should also be avoided due to the road closures and possible traffic disruption.
The restrictions have been put in place ahead of the JI and PTI protests.
Previously, authorities had started preparations to control movement on major roads and around sensitive areas in Islamabad.
Where have containers been placed?
Containers have been placed on several key roads across the capital. D-Chowk is one of the main areas where containers have been placed as part of the security arrangements.
The Islamabad administration and police have also stepped up preparations ahead of the protests.
Security tightened in key areas
Authorities are preparing to block some routes leading to D-Chowk and other important roads.
Additional security personnel are being deployed at Islamabad’s entry and exit points.
Security has also been increased around government offices and other sensitive locations.
Officials said the measures are aimed at managing traffic and stopping protesters from entering restricted areas.
Before this, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that political parties and their officeholders cannot block roads during protests or public gatherings.
The court gave the decision while hearing a case about the PTI protest planned for September 27 in Islamabad.
The court also directed chief ministers to make sure that government resources and state machinery are not used for political activities.
