September 24, 2026
By Hashir Ahsan
ISLAMABAD
In view of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s protest and long march on September 27, the federal government, taking an important step to maintain law and order, has approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and various districts of Punjab.
Upon the request of the Chief Commissioner Islamabad and the Government of Punjab, the Federal Ministry of Interior has granted permission to provide full support to the Rangers under legal powers in Islamabad and Punjab.
According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, the full deployment of Rangers has been carried out under Sections 7 (b) and 10 of the ‘Pakistan Rangers Ordinance 1959’, as well as Sections 4 and 5 of the ‘Anti-Terrorism Act 1997’. The notification clearly orders that Rangers and police take every appropriate and necessary responsive action in self-defense against attacks by rioting and armed mobs.
The Ministry of Interior has issued instructions to the Rangers and police to take comprehensive measures to deal with any violent activity or threat. Ministerial orders state that the deployed Rangers personnel will fulfill all necessary responsibilities to maintain law and order and provide security support.
Online classes on Friday
According to a memo issued by the Directorate of Academics and Examinations at the International Islamic University, all classes on Friday, September 25, 2026, will be held online via Google Classroom as per the old timetable. In this regard, heads of all deputations and departments have been instructed to strictly enforce the orders, and directions have been issued to shift LMS and CMS courses to Google Classroom.
On the other hand, Air University has also issued a notification deciding to conduct all morning and evening classes online on Friday, September 25, at the Main Campus, H-11, Fazaia Medical College Islamabad, and Kamra Campus. Faculty members and staff of the respective campuses have been instructed to work from home, while weekend classes scheduled for September 26 and 27 will also be held online.
According to the notification, academic and administrative activities at all other campuses and Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College Karachi will continue as usual; however, under instructions not to compromise campus security, essential security staff will remain on duty.
Similarly, Allama Iqbal Open University has also issued instructions to its employees to work from home in view of the PTI protest and road blockages. Following the approval of the Vice-Chancellor, according to the Registrar’s notification, all university employees will work from home on Friday and Monday.
Due to the PTI protest, a comprehensive security plan has been formulated by the administration and police, under which over 1,000 containers have been summoned to block off the Federal Capital’s Red Zone and sensitive locations. Containers have already been delivered to entry points of the city, such as Faizabad, Tarnol, and Sangjani. To maintain law and order, a decision has been made to deploy over 30,000 additional personnel from Punjab, Sindh, First Capital Police, Rangers, and Frontier Constabulary.
Speaking with Voice PK, Islamabad Traffic Police officials stated that currently all entry and exit routes of Islamabad are open, and roads will be closed keeping the protest situation in mind; however, alternate routes will be provided to the citizens of Islamabad during this period to save them from inconvenience. Traffic Police officials further added that protests have taken place in Islamabad prior to this as well, and a proper plan is always shared by the traffic police; this time will be no different. Despite the closure of entry and exit routes, citizens will easily perform their duties within Islamabad using alternate routes.
Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Khan
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, while urging the government for talks regarding the long march, has stated that our point of view should be heard because we do not want the public and the custodians of the law to come face to face.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that in such serious circumstances, when a long march by a major political party is about to take place, negotiations must happen, and I would tell the government that this is not the time to use net launchers on political people participating in the long march.
He said that net launchers are not used against political people; their voices are heard, their grievances are resolved, justice is provided to them, their words are listened to carefully, and egos are set aside. This entire matter has become a battle of egos, and the government will have to bow its ego.
Barrister Gohar stated that the use of net launchers must be stopped and a way must be found to establish serenity. We do not want the public and the custodians of the law to face each other. We are saying that our point of view should be heard; we are peaceful and stepping out for our rights. We are raising the voice for justice, and we have repeatedly said that we were not heard and justice was not delivered.
He further said that no matter what statements the ministers make, no minister has said that we heard PTI’s side and provided justice. The party announced its program long ago, and there will be no change in it. As far as trust is concerned, Sohail Afridi is our Chief Minister, and the PTI founder has full confidence in Sohail Afridi; InshaAllah, he will remain the Chief Minister. Sohail Afridi has the support of all of us, and these are the directives of the PTI founder.