September 21, 2026
By Hashir Ahsan
ISLAMABAD
The federal capital Islamabad and its twin city are oncce more in the grip of political and administrative tension following the call for two separate protests and a long march by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami. In response the administration has resorted to completely sealing the city.
More than 30,000 personnel from the police and other security agencies are to perform their duties in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and along the routes of the march as the days pass, with the district administration in process of implementing a comprehensive security plan to prevent any untoward incident, or the entry of protesters in sensitive areas.
The enforcement of Section 144, which was already in place in the federal capital, has been further tightened, completely banning the assembly of four or more people at one place, any type of public gathering, procession, or rally.
Highly sensitive areas such as the Parliament House, the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister House, and the Diplomatic Enclave have been completely sealed with containers and barbed wire. Apart from the Islamabad Police, there are contingents of the Frontier Constabulary, Punjab Police, and Rangers that have been deployed on major thoroughfares and government buildings for security.
Curb on movement
To stop the advance of protesters into the city, the administration has taken freight transporters and cargo vehicles into custody and placed containers at main entry points and key intersections. D-Chowk has been closed from all sides with double layers of containers, while containers have also been delivered to the Faizabad Interchange, the largest route connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Convoys arriving from the Motorway are to be stopped by containers brought to Zero Point on Srinagar Highway, and barriers and containers are being placed at T-Cross Rawat and Taxila on routes coming from the directions of Lahore and Peshawar.
Alongside this, security checkpoints have been established with obstacles set up at various places on the Islamabad Expressway and connecting roads, including Koral Chowk, Airport Road, Golra Mor, Murree Road, and I.J. Principal Road.
While on one hand, government preparations to stop the protest are underway, on the other hand, the roads at present remain open and daily activities are proceeding as usual. When interviewed, citizens say that the government and the protesters should sit together and find a solution to their issues so that the public does not face difficulty in their daily routine.
Unlawful detentions
PTI claims that since their announcement of the march, their workers are being detained unlawfully, and so far more than a hundred party workers have been presented in various courts. The party has said that the government should refrain from such ‘cheap tactics’.
Public life
A decision has been made to keep the 24 educational institutions across Islamabad closed from Tuesday, September 22. Apart for these 24 institutions included in the list, all other educational institutions will remain open. Those institutions that will remain closed will be given to the police force for accommodation.
In several schools in areas G6, G7, F6 and F7, complete closure has been announced from Tuesday, as well some select educational institutions in Tarnol, Sangjani, Sihala, and Rawal Dam.
For emergency situation because of any political tension, an emergency alert has been enforced in PIMS and the polyclinic hospitals, and staff leave has been canceled.
Talks amid tension?
With regard to the current political situation, the Senate Leader of the Opposition, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, has said that they are ready for talks and urged the Prime Minister to form a committee of political leaders. He suggested that negotiating teams from both the government and the opposition must be constituted, emphasizing that if political committees sit down from both sides rather than a single individual, a solution to the issues can be found and that the door for negotiations are open whether the government wants to sit today or any other time.
However the government leaders maintain that PTI’s protest has never been peaceful and that is why it will have to be stopped.