Islamabad: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in Pakistan's jail, is once again becoming a problem for PM Shahbaz Sharif and his government. Imran had ordered his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to hold a massive protest in Islamabad today from the jail itself. After this, workers had also announced a massive protest in Islamabad for the release of Imran Khan. But Pakistan's authorities today completely sealed the capital Islamabad to prevent the anti-government rally of Imran Khan's supporters. Along with this, mobile and internet services were shut down.

This campaign of PTI is the latest in a series of protest rallies since last month to pressurize Shahbaz Sharif for the release of Imran Khan and to agitate against the ruling coalition government. According to , there has been fraud in the elections. Pakistani officials said that shipping containers have been placed to block the entry and exit points of Islamabad, where a large number of police and paramilitary forces are deployed. Along with this, the police has imposed Section 144 and banned any gathering in the capital.

Home Minister said the plan to attack Islamabad will not succeed

Seeing the PTI's anti-government preparations, Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a press conference late Thursday, "If anyone plans an attack on Islamabad, we will not allow it to happen." He urged Khan's party to shift the rally to later dates to avoid disrupting Islamabad's preparations to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting on October 15 and 16. "Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is visiting ahead of the conference. He will be accompanied by a high-profile Saudi delegation and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang," Naqvi said, adding, "We cannot allow any chaos."

The conference in the capital will send a bad signal to the world

Naqvi said any agitation before the conference in the capital would not send a good signal to the world. But Imran Khan rejected his appeal and asked his supporters to gather outside Parliament regardless of the obstacles. "I want all of you to reach D-Chowk today for a peaceful protest rally," he posted on X on Friday, referring to a location outside Parliament. "This war has entered a decisive phase." Even though Khan has been in jail since August 2023, candidates supported by him won the most seats in February's general election. 

However, their numbers were insufficient to form a government. Islamabad police warned that they would take action against anyone attempting to disturb the peace in the capital. Any gathering has been banned.

Schools were closed and cellphone services were suspended in Islamabad and the neighboring city of Rawalpindi. Also, a ban was imposed on any passenger other than the driver on a bike.