ISLAMABAD: PTI protesters crossed Islamabad Toll Plaza on Monday on their way towards the federal capital as the government vowed to not spare those behind a cop’s death.
The protest, which the government is determined to foil with force, was originally scheduled to be staged on November 24, but the convoys took a breather last night after PTI leaders said they were in “no hurry” to reach the federal capital for their ‘do or die’ protest, as workers and supporters from across the country attempted to defy arrests, baton charges and tear gas to participate in the agitation.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week ruled that PTI’s planned protest was unlawful and directed the federal government to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in Islamabad without disrupting public life, particularly with the Belarusian president’s arrival today in the capital for a three-day official visit.
Amid the movement of PTI convoys throughout today, the Punjab government and police announced that a constable was killed at the hands of “miscreants” at Hakla interchange.
A Dawn.com correspondent present with the PTI convoy being led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said it crossed the Islamabad Toll Plaza.
The PTI also shared visuals of vehicles at the scene.
Sharing footage from the site, it said CM Gandapur’s convoy had entered Islamabad.
KP Law Minister Aftab Alam said the convoy had crossed Chungi No 26 and the next stop was D-Chowk.
PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai earlier told Dawn.com that the convoy entered Islamabad’s limits from Sangjani toll plaza. The PTI also shared footage of the KP convoy in Islamabad’s limits.
PTI leader Muhammad Basharat Raja said that multiple convoys were entering Islamabad.
PTI founder Imran Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi said in a video message released today that people were reaching Islamabad and called on those who had not come out to reach the capital.
She demanded Imran’s release earlier. “My brothers, as long as Imran is not with us, we will not end this march,” she said while addressing supporters at a stop near the Hazara Interchange. “I will stay there till my last breath, and all of you have to support me. This is not just about my husband but about the country and its leader. Bushra Bibi is a part of the convoy being led by CM Gandapur. The PTI said the morale of its protesters was high. “Those who considered Islamabad as their fiefdom and closed it for Pakistani citizens, they should now take notice!” it warned. Earlier this morning, an update shared by the party prior to the resumption of the march said that Gandapur was ready to lead his convoy. PTI leader Sanam Javaid Khan shared an update on her convoy’s location in a post on X at 1:33pm, saying they had reached Hassanabdal.
According to her post, Bushra Bibi, Gandapur, Babar Saleem Swati, Faisal Javed and Omar Ayub Khan were present in the convoy, among other party leaders. Separately, Yousafzai, Burhan Interchange in Attock, earlier said that the convoys had departed for Islamabad but were moving slowly due to their size as well as the presence of barriers. He claimed that the police had retreated after seeing the “huge rally”.
Yousufzai reiterated that KP CM Gandapur intended to reach D-Chowk “peacefully but at any cost”, and that the rally was on the motorway near Burhan, Attock.
The PTI leader said that the processions from Shangla, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan and Swabi have converged on the main motorway near Burhan Interchange, adding that party workers came under shelling by the police.
He said that the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway procession was being led by CM Gandapur, Bushra Bibi, provincial ministers and other party leaders, whereas Hazara motorway processions were being led by Omar Ayub Khan, himself, Ali Asghar Khan and Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.