ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday dismissed reports claiming that roads across Islamabad had been closed ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned October 4 march, saying containers had been positioned at selected locations only as a precautionary security measure.
The clarification followed an Al Jazeera report claiming that between 1,500 and 2,000 shipping containers had been taken into government custody for use as barricades ahead of the PTI protest.
The PTI had earlier shifted its planned march towards Islamabad from September 27 to October 4. The party has said it intends to demand the release of its founding chairman Imran Khan and what it calls the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
Despite talks between the government and opposition on Friday, PTI leaders have maintained that they intend to proceed with the planned demonstration.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has previously said the government would adopt a long-term approach to dealing with PTI protests, stressing that the country could not be kept shut for 10 to 20 days because of demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a fact-check regarding reports of road closures, stating that containers had been placed in Islamabad as a preventive measure in line with directions of the Islamabad High Court.
According to the ministry, the measures were intended to protect citizens, public property and lawful movement while securing sensitive installations and public infrastructure.
It said the preventive arrangements had been made in view of previous incidents of violence during protests, while maintaining that roads in the capital remained open.
The ministry accused Al Jazeera of presenting the security arrangements as road blockades while overlooking the judicial and security considerations behind the measures.
Information Minister also criticised what he described as one-sided reporting, saying such coverage could create a misleading impression about the situation in the federal capital.
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