ISLAMABAD – Authorities sealed Islamabad’s Red Zone on Friday ahead of a protest announced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and a joint opposition alliance, blocking access to Parliament and surrounding roads.
The main gate of Parliament House was shut, with heavy police deployment inside and outside the premises. Prisoner vans and an armoured vehicle were stationed outside the building as security was tightened.
Shahrah-e-Dastoor was completely closed from Radio Pakistan Chowk, where a large police contingent was deployed. Law enforcement officials stopped both citizens and lawmakers from moving toward Parliament.
PTI lawmakers Iqbal Afridi and Umair Niazi were halted at Radio Pakistan Chowk. Meanwhile, a verbal exchange took place between police and Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Fatahullah Khan, who protested being stopped from entering Parliament.
The heightened security measures come amid fears of unrest linked to the opposition demonstration. Traffic in and around central Islamabad remained severely disrupted as authorities maintained strict access control.