First arrivals: Marchers begin descending on capital

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)’s workers and leaders from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Murree and Azad Jammu and Kashmir started arriving in Islamabad on Thursday evening.

PTI participants gathered at Sector G-7 and Zero Point.

Convoys from K-P are coming through the Motorway and GT Road taking the Rawalpindi route through IJ Principal Road and heading towards Zero Point, said Haroon Khan, a PTI overseas chapter leader.

Moreover, PTI workers removed containers placed at Islamabad Toll Plaza, according to Express News.

PTI leaders claimed that about 20,000 participants had arrived in the capital by evening and thousands more were on the way from K-P and were expected to reach Islamabad late Thursday night.

PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai said party members were expected to assemble at Zero Point from where the authorities have removed barricades.

Thousands of PTI activists from Rawalpindi were waiting for the march at Faizabad Interchange.

The administration has also instructed CDA, Iesco and public hospitals of the capital to make necessary arrangements.

Around 20,000 police, Rangers, and army troops have been deployed in the capital, according to the Islamabad police spokesperson.

An intelligence report said a total of 742 vehicles carrying approximately 8,643 PTI workers passed the Motorway in Peshawar from 3pm to 5pm.

According to Traffic SSP Asmatullah Junejo, roads connecting to Kashmir Highway will remain open for people to walk on but cars will not be allowed to pass through.

The authorities have sealed off the Red Zone and blocked all the roads leading to the Diplomatic Enclave.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2014.