Law enforcement personnel at the entrance to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's provincial chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur was along with party supporters, on October 5, 2024.
@aliimranabbasi/X
The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) retracted its claim that the party's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had been arrested in Islamabad on Saturday after finally reaching the capital—one full day after authorities had blocked his entry and tear-gassed his convoy.
KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif posted on X, “Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, @AliAminKhanPTI, has not been formally arrested. A heavy contingent of Rangers and police is present at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House. The Chief Minister is on bail until October 25, and arresting him would be contempt of court. If the Chief Minister is arrested, it will be an insult to the mandate of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The illegitimate government will have to answer for such unconstitutional and illegal actions.”
In an earlier post, the party had claimed that law enforcement personnel had "forcefully entered KP House and launched an aggressive attack in an attempt to arrest CM KPK Ali Amin Gandapur. This blatant abuse of power is deeply shameful, raising serious concerns about the state of lawlessness in Pakistan."
Gandapur managed to reach the KP House in the capital after separating ways with his convoy at Attock, where they spent the night, hoping to enter Islamabad today.
Footage shared by various party supporters on X showed several law enforcement personnel at the entrance and around the chief minister's official residence, with some firing tear gas shells at it.
Punjab govt seeks army deployment
A day after Pakistan Army troops took control of Islamabad’s security situation, the Punjab government also sought the force’s deployment as the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protests spread to Lahore and other parts of the province.
The Punjab government also pointed to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference, scheduled in the federal capital from Oct. 15 to 17, as the justification for needing the army to maintain law and order in the province.
“Pakistan’s Armed Forces, in coordination with Civil Armed Forces and the Police, will be deployed to ensure security at the across key areas in Punjab,” said a notification issued by the provincial government.
Rangers and Frontier Corps personnel stand guard near D-Chowk in Islamabad on day 2, October 5, 2024, of opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's protest in Islamabad.Nukta
“The Punjab government, following the 15th meeting of the Standing Committee on Law and Order (SCCLO) on October 5, 2024, has officially issued Rules of Engagement (ROEs) for the deployment of Pakistan Army troops in aid of civil authorities. These guidelines, set under Article 245 of the Constitution and the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997), aim to maintain law and order during the 23rd SCO Council of Heads of States meeting,” the notification said.
“The Armed Forces, in coordination with Civil Armed Forces and Police, will be deployed at key points, including airbases, airports, and routes across Punjab. Military commanders, in consultation with police, will determine the exact scope of deployment. The forces are authorized to take necessary measures, including the use of firearms, in response to any threats,” it further added.
The ROEs emphasize “proportional use of force”, beginning with warnings to demonstrators, followed by show of force or Riot Control Agents. “In extreme cases, hostile fire may be returned, and individuals threatening public safety may be detained,” the notification adds.
Islamabad remains under lockdown
Pakistan’s federal capital continued to be under lockdown a day after the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) urged its supporters to gather at D-Chowk on party founder, jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s call.
Major roads in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi remain blocked, with containers placed at key routes to prevent entry.
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The PTI demands Imran’s release and has warned the government against passing its proposed constitutional amendments and legal reforms. Its workers defied the government’s protest ban and clashed with law enforcers throughout much of Friday.
Late last night, Pakistan Army troops moved into the capital territory and assumed control of security responsibilities following government approval.
The government claimed that army deployment came in light of the security situation ahead of the visits of foreign dignitaries for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference, scheduled for Oct 15 to 17.
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Earlier in the day, sanitary workers were seen clearing trash and spent shell casings from the site, while army vehicles, called in by the Interior Ministry, patrolled the streets.
Mobile phone services remained suspended across the capital, leaving residents without any connectivity.
An upturned police picket lies on the side of a road near D-Chowk in Islamabad.
Nukta
Internet disruptions were also being reported, whereas Metro bus services were still on a halt.
However, the closure of schools and offices due to the weekend has somewhat eased the impact on daily life in Islamabad.
Imran again renews call for protest
In a post shared on the former prime minister official X handle, Imran appreciated party workers for their ‘continued resistance’.
He renewed his earlier call for protests and asked party workers in Islamabad to reach D-Chowk, and for those in other areas to join protests in their respective cities.
“I am calling on everyone to keep heading to D chowk and join Ali Amin’s convoy. I especially want to commend our people from KP, North Punjab and Islamabad,” he said.
The ex-PM added, “I am also asking our people from Punjab to move towards Minar i Pakistan in Lahore. If they cannot make it there they must join the protests in their cities.”
KP CM Gandapur's convoy tear-gassed
After spending the night at Katti Pahari bridge on the M-1 motorway in Punjab’s Attock district, PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy was said to have resumed its march toward Islamabad this morning.
As per videos shared on the party's official page on X, the chief minister's convoy had reached Thatta Khalil after passing through Taxila.
However, there were reports of the chief minister's convoy being tear-gassed to stop it from reaching the capital. PTI leader in self-imposed exile Shahbaz Gill posted a video of the alleged shelling.
While D-Chowk and Blue Area in Islamabad were cleared of PTI protesters in the morning, authorities anticipate they would return to welcome Gandapur’s convoy if and when it arrives.
In a video, Gandapur, responding to a person supposedly a reporter, said that he had nothing to say, "whoever wants to hold talks must hold them with Imran Khan".
Situation in Lahore
Meanwhile, several entry and exit points into the city of Lahore in Punjab have also been restricted in response to the party’s call for a protest at 2 PM. At least 600 PTI supporters are reported to have been arrested in an effort to thwart the demonstration.
Commuters trace back from a street blocked with shipping containers by authorities for security measures against a protest by activists and supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, demanding Khan's release in Lahore on October 5, 2024.AFP
The Punjab government has sealed off the Minar-e-Pakistan area. Containers have been set up on all routes leading to the protest site.
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To ensure public safety, over 10,000 security personnel have been deployed throughout Lahore. Additionally, the metro bus service has been partially suspended.
In a video posted by PTI Lahore on X, members of the party's youth wing, led by its general secretary Gulrez Iqbal, could be seen breaking through barriers and running past Punjab police personnel.
“We have taken to the streets on the call of our leader Imran Khan,” Iqbal said. He urged others to join the protest too, adding “We are going to reach Minar-e-Pakistan at any cost.”
With input from Murtaza Dar in Lahore.
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