Twin cities on tenterhooks as JI vows 'sea of people'

LAHORE/RAWALPINDI:

The federal capital braces for long marches, putting the government, administration and police in a tight situation, with authorities deciding to close all educational institutions, colleges and universities, hotels, motels, rest houses and inns in Rawalpindi from next week

The first in a series of long marches on the federal capital will be led by JI Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, after the fifth round of talks between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami ended without a final agreement on the party's demands, including the withdrawal of the petroleum levy, as differences over its planned long march remained unresolved.

The government delegation asked the JI to postpone the long march in view of security threats, while the party maintained that the protest would continue until the petroleum levy was withdrawn.

The talks were held at JI headquarters in Mansoorah. The government team comprised Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The JI delegation included Deputy Emir Liaqat Baloch, acting Secretary General Nazir Ahmad Janjua, Special Assistant Umair Idrees, JI Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari and Information Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Tarabi.

During the meeting, the government delegation cited security concerns and requested the JI to defer the long march. Government representatives also assured the party that practical measures would be taken soon to provide significant relief to the public.

The government team said Pakistan was facing pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that an IMF delegation was also expected to visit the country soon.

Liaqat Baloch said the long march would remain necessary until the petroleum levy was abolished. He called on the government to take practical steps to address public demands, warning that protests and the long march would proceed otherwise.

According to Baloch, the "Super Long March" would begin from Karachi on Sunday under the leadership of JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, as scheduled.

Lights and mobile internet services will be shut down during the long marches, while all 1,500 cameras installed under the Safe City project in Rawalpindi have been activated to monitor protesters.

Transport and goods transport terminals will also remain completely closed, while Metro Bus and Green Electric Bus services will remain suspended.

Markets and wholesale markets across the city will also be closed. Large spiked containers, fitted with eight-inch spikes, have started being installed at entry points of the twin cities, including Faizabad, Chungi No. 26, Rawat, Chakri, Adiala Road, Pirwadhai, Bharakahu and 17-Mile, with entry routes being sealed. Monitoring will also be carried out through drones.

Emergency has been imposed at all hospitals in the twin cities and leaves of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have been cancelled.

Fresh contingents of Rangers and Punjab Constabulary have been called in. Thousands of rubber bullets and tear-gas shells have been supplied to Rawalpindi and Islamabad police.

Attock police have been provided heavy Rangers contingents, armoured vehicles, prison vans, heavy weapons and personnel, who will assume duties on Wednesday and Thursday. The central long march coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be stopped at all costs, officials said.

The Jamaat-i-Islami long march will start from Karachi on Sunday, Sept 20, while caravans from all six districts of Rawalpindi division will also start reaching Liaquat Bagh from Sunday. Jamaat-i-Islami emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman will leave Karachi for Rawalpindi by train on Sunday, with his train march scheduled to reach Rawalpindi on Tuesday, Sept 22.

Daily protest sit-ins will continue in Rawalpindi until his arrival.

Due to road closures and the large number of spiked containers being installed at different places, all business, commercial and social activities in Rawalpindi will remain paralysed from Monday, Sept 21 to Sept 27.