Normal life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been severely disrupted for a second consecutive day as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests continue to paralyze the twin cities. Major highways and mobile services have been suspended, causing significant challenges for residents.
In Islamabad, both mobile and internet services have been cut off, and Metro bus services have halted, leaving commuters stranded. Key entry and exit points of the cities, including Faizabad, D-Chowk, and 26 No Chungi, have been blocked by containers to control the movement of protesters. This has resulted in severe traffic jams, making commuting nearly impossible.
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Saturday morning saw D-Chowk eerily quiet as police and army personnel patrolled the area. The Islamabad police have so far contained PTI protesters to the stock exchange. However, the Red Zone remains a hotspot for clashes, especially around D-Chowk, where PTI workers engaged in stone pelting while law enforcement responded with tear gas. Despite several attempts to disperse the crowd, protesters have regrouped and launched fresh attacks, keeping tensions high throughout the day.
With containers blocking major roads such as the Express Highway, Blue Area, and D-Chowk, streetlights have been switched off, plunging the areas into darkness. Faizabad has become the focal point of violent confrontations, with intermittent police shelling, and all roads in the area remain closed.
The protests, which began the previous night, have led to the arrest of 20 to 25 PTI workers from 26 No Chungi by Islamabad police. To manage the situation, a large force comprising police, the Anti-Riot Force, and Frontier Corps personnel has been deployed in sensitive areas like Faizabad and D-Chowk.
Despite these measures, the protests show no signs of slowing down, with PTI workers remaining determined to continue their demonstrations. The situation remains volatile as authorities attempt to restore order in the cities.
On Friday night, Pakistan Army troops officially took control of security in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution. The Interior Ministry ordered the deployment, with police and other security agencies supporting the army in maintaining law and order. Army troops have taken up positions in D-Chowk, where PTI has announced further protests.
