Islamabad authorities have reopened Faizabad and surrounding areas to traffic after Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) assured the administration of a peaceful Gaza march.
JI's Islamabad Information Secretary Amir Baloch said on Sunday that the party’s Palestine Solidarity March will be held on Islamabad Expressway, following an understanding reached with the city administration.
Baloch confirmed that JI would not proceed towards the Red Zone and instead stage the demonstration near Zero Point. “The venue for the Gaza solidarity rally has been finalised in coordination with the Islamabad administration,” he stated.
The roads, including the Expressway, Murree Road, and various connecting routes, had been closed earlier due to security concerns regarding the march.
Following changes in the location of the Gaza Million March, heavy machinery was used to remove containers that had been placed early in the morning to block the roads.
The closures had disrupted traffic flow, severely affecting the commute for residents in the city. Commercial areas in Faizabad had also been shut down during the closure.
All entry and exit points to the Red Zone and extended Red Zone were barricaded with containers and barbed wire.
Islamabad Police had warned that any illegal gatherings or protests would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken under the "Peaceful Assembly" and "Public Order Act" if necessary.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami announced a nationwide shutter-down strike on April 22 to express solidarity with the people of Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing offensive.
The announcement was made by JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman while addressing a large gathering during the “Palestine March” held in Karachi on last week.
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