Containers return to capital’s streets

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration on Tuesday started blocking roads leading to the Red Zone using containers. The district administration, however, did not specify any reason for the move.

Apart from containers, which appeared on greenbelts adjoining roads leading to the Red Zone on Tuesday afternoon, a heavy contingent of police was also deployed at different points where the containers were placed and motorists were only allowed to pass through after verification.

Sources in the Islamabad Police have told The Express Tribune that senior police officers of the city have not specified the reason for making preparations to seal the high-profile area of the federal capital which hosts the proverbial nerve centre of the country in the form of several government offices including the PM Secretariat, Pak Secretariat, the Supreme Court, PM House the Aiwan-e-Sadr and the parliament.

With the opposition due to hold a rally in faraway Gujranwala on Friday, the measure was most probably taken to restrict the movement of protesters from the Clerks Association who plan to march into the sensitive zone. The association has called for a protest demanding an increase in salaries after the recent wave of inflation.

It may be noted that these government employees had managed to enter the Red Zone during their protest last week and staged a sit-in.