Thousands of police officers and personnel from Punjab and Sindh are being deployed to Islamabad to reinforce local security forces as the federal government intensifies preparations ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) scheduled march on September 27. The protest aims to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan and uphold what the party calls the supremacy of the Constitution.
Approximately 1,950 police officers from Sindh are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday night. Punjab is also set to send around 19,000 personnel over the next two days. The federal government had initially requested assistance from Punjab for 23,000 officers and personnel. Arrangements have been finalized for the accommodation of police forces from Sindh, Punjab, and the Frontier Corps.
In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court has issued directives regarding the march, emphasizing that public roads and facilities must not be obstructed during the demonstration. Meanwhile, Islamabad Police have arrested MNA Adil Bazai, bringing the total number of detained PTI lawmakers in the capital to six. The detained lawmakers include Senator Saifullah Niazi and MNAs Sanaullah Masti Khel, Mian Ahsan Jamal, Dawar Kundi, Ghaus Muhammad, and Adil Bazai. They have been taken into custody under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance and transferred to Jhelum Jail.
Authorities have been welding long lines of containers at various locations throughout Islamabad overnight to restrict movement during the protest. These containers are being positioned to block key entry and exit points as well as major roads, forming part of the government’s strategy to manage the anticipated mobilization.
Despite these measures, PTI has reiterated its intention to proceed with the march, framing it as a democratic and constitutional right. Speaking in Peshawar, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated that the party has communicated its concerns about recent arrests to federal officials and urged authorities to refrain from further detentions, warning that such actions could escalate tensions.
At a press conference alongside Gohar Ali Khan and PTI leader Asad Qaiser, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the long march. He declared, “We are standing firm and will conduct a long march. No one can strip us of our democratic right to protest.”
The detention of Imran Khan’s family members has further heightened the situation. His sisters, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan, have been detained and transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail for 30 days following the earlier detention of their sister Aleema Khan. A petition challenging Aleema Khan’s detention has been filed in the Lahore High Court.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced that the government will implement a permanent strategy to avoid prolonged disruptions caused by protests. He warned that Islamabad will not be allowed to remain shut for extended periods and pledged to enforce the Islamabad High Court’s orders if PTI proceeds with the march. The government maintains that these measures are necessary to preserve public order and prevent disruption to daily life, while PTI criticizes the arrests and restrictions as politically motivated.
Calls for dialogue have emerged amid the tensions. Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas emphasized that dialogue is the only viable solution to the current political crisis. He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to establish a committee of political leaders and facilitate negotiations between government and opposition representatives empowered to make decisions. He affirmed that the opposition remains open to talks.
Additionally, the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) condemned the arrest of Aleema Khan, describing Imran Khan’s imprisonment as unjust and accusing authorities of targeting his family for political retribution. TTAP also criticized the arrests of parliamentarians, political activists, and ordinary citizens, as well as the government’s use of containers to block highways. The organization warned that responding to peaceful political activities with arrests and restrictions would only deepen the political crisis.
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