Khatam-e-Nabuwat rally: Capital welcomes containers again as alert heightened

Security enhanced; reenforcements sought from Punjab, AJK and FC

ISLAMABAD: Container walls returned to the capital on Tuesday evening and security heightened as Islamabad braced for a rally by some religious groups who are expected to arrive on Wednesday.

The rally, which started from Lahore on Tuesday, is being spearheaded by the Sunni Tehreek along with several other religious groups, to agitate on the issue of Khatam-e-Nabuwat.

The capital authorities, though, are not taking any chances and heavy contingents of police and other security forces have been deployed along the entrances to Islamabad’s Red Zone, which houses key state institution, government buildings as well as foreign diplomatic missions.

The capital’s authorities have deployed around 4,000 personnel from the Frontier Constabulary, apart from cops from the Punjab and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir police who will reinforce the capital’s police. Shipping containers have also been placed at the entrances to the Red Zone, which is expected to be completely sealed off by Wednesday morning.  Inspector General of Islamabad Police has also cancelled leaves for all staff and directed them to immediately report to duty.

Police expect a crowd of around 5,000 to 6,000 to march onto the capital with hundreds of supporters expected to join the rally from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The rally organisers have announced plans to march up to the Burmese High Commission to protest against the violence on Rohingya Muslims.

It is pertinent to note that all kinds of gatherings are banned in the capital under Section 144, imposed by the district administration. The Islamabad High Court has banned all kinds of rallies in the capital, except for those taking place in the Parade Ground area.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday appealed to religious parties to avoid agitation on the issue, assuring that there was no difference of opinion on it.

“Protest demonstrations are not in the interest of the country. They not only disturb the peace but also harm the country’s image,” Iqbal said. The interior minister said while a peaceful protest was a democratic right, no rally should disrupt public life and peace.

“Containers being placed in Red Zone to restrict access. Is this being done to “secure” Rex Tillerson? Would u ever see this happening in DC?” teased Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and MNA from NA-48 Asad Umar on microblogging site Twitter. However, Iqbal promptly retorted.

“Brother it is for Khatam-e-Nabuwat rally long march protesters.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2017.