ISLAMABAD: As the Pakistan Democratic Movement rallies have started reaching Islamabad, the local administration Monday closed the D Chowk for all kinds of traffic, warning government of security risks.
Police sent back the PDM supporters who reached Nadra Chowk. The protesters were asked to enter the Red Zone via Margallah Road. The administration has deployed an additional force of police, FC and Rangers officials on Red Zone.
The JUI’s Insarul Islam volunteers who are supposed to perform security duty during the PDM’s sit-in have assembled at Serena Chowk.
The ICT administration has completely sealed the Red Zone and diverted the traffic to Margallah Road. The PDM protesters coming from different areas have also been stopped at Serena Chowk. The Serena Chowk road which goes to Red Zone has been closed for traffic.
After strict security checking, only pedestrians will be allowed to go to Red Zone. For this very purpose, walk-through gates have been installed at the entry points of Serena Chowk.
Sources said that the ICT administration and police have informed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah about the security risk if the sit-in takes place outside the Supreme Court on Constitution Avenue. They told the ministry that important government buildings and foreign embassies are situated in the Red Zone.
The terrorists could infiltrate the rallies posing as their supporters, the administration warned. It said that Sections 144 and 245 are already in place in Islamabad. The ICT administration said that police, FC, and Rangers have been deployed in the Read Zone. The Army officials have already been performing security duty outside important buildings under Section 245, it added.
