LAHORE:
In a bid to thwart Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned long march on Islamabad, the Punjab government, which had already detained several PTI leaders, workers and relatives of party founder Imran Khan on various grounds, has taken a series of measures, including imposing a 13-day ban on public gatherings across the province, shutting down roads and businesses in and around Attock and Rawalpindi, and calling in Rangers paramilitary forces in four districts.
A government notification said gatherings, processions and assemblies of five or more people had been banned at public places, roads and open spaces across Punjab for 13 days. The order also banned the carrying and display of weapons and the incitement or encouragement of people to join unlawful gatherings. Weddings, funeral prayers and burials, as well as gatherings at mosques and other places of worship, were exempt.
The notification said law-enforcement and intelligence agencies had received information about an imminent security threat, with militant groups planning attacks on public gatherings.
It said rallies, public meetings, sit-ins, processions and demonstrations could become potential targets for attacks.
The government has repeatedly imposed similar restrictions ahead of major PTI activities, citing security threats.
According to a Home Department notification, the provincial government has asked the federal Ministry of Interior to suspend or downgrade mobile and internet services in parts of Rawalpindi and Attock from Sept. 27 as part of security measures.
The request covers specified areas of Rawalpindi and Attock, including Brahma Bahter, Ganju, Ahatta, Taxila City, Wah Sadar, Thallian and Chakri along the motorway. It also seeks the jamming of mobile services at the specified locations.
A government spokesperson said the decision to restrict mobile and internet services at the locations had been taken following a request from police as part of measures to maintain law and order.
According to a third notification, the Punjab government has asked the federal Ministry of Interior to deploy Rangers personnel in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali until Oct 5.
The deployment was approved at the 59th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order. The Punjab Home Department spokesperson said the request covered three Rangers companies for Rawalpindi, five wings for Attock and one company each for Jhelum and Mianwali.
The spokesperson said the deployment would be carried out under Article 245 of Pakistan’s Constitution, Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and Sections 7(b) and 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959.
PTI leaders, workers and relatives of the party’s founder have already been detained by the provincial government on various grounds.
The government is also preparing to close the motorway ahead of the planned long march, a source familiar with the matter said. The Lahore-Islamabad motorway could be closed from Thursday, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
