mm-news-@dmin Minister affirms steps to prevent planned march towards the federal capital
- Talal Chaudhry said the state will not allow mobs to blackmail it.
- Minister says containers placed in the capital to protect people.
- Even after the Gaza deal, Talal continued to question the rationale behind the TLP protest.
ISLAMABAD: Authorities suspended cellular internet in Islamabad and Rawalpindi as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) continued its march towards the federal capital on Friday.
“The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control has accorded approval to suspend 3G/4G services in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, starting from 12 am until further orders,” read the notification issued by the interior ministry on Thursday.
The ministry requested the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take “further necessary action” in coordination with the Islamabad commissioner, the IGP office, Rawalpindi’s commissioner, and the RPO office.
The notification comes as the federal government intensified efforts to stop the TLP from marching towards the capital.
Addressing a news conference, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the government was working to peacefully stop TLP’s planned march toward Islamabad and asserted that the state would not allow mobs to blackmail it.
Chaudhry questioned the rationale behind the march, noting that Palestinians are celebrating the recent deal for peace in Gaza.
“The main party to the issue is the Palestinians, and they are celebrating the recent peace deal,” he said.
“What is the purpose of this protest despite a resolution to the issue of Palestine and Gaza?” the minister asked.
Chaudhry maintained that the federal government had implemented preemptive measures and would not tolerate “blackmail and politics of demands”.
The minister accused TLP of exploiting sensitive issues for political gains and said the party had previously attacked public property.
“Government will not let these mobs and protests move forward,” he added.
Meanwhile, authorities placed containers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to block routes ahead of TLP’s planned march toward the federal capital.
In his presser, Chaudhry said that containers were placed in Islamabad to “protect people from miscreants”.
In Punjab, the authorities have imposed Section 144 of the CrPC across the province. Barring the display of weapons and banning public gatherings.
As per a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department. A ban has been imposed on gatherings, processions, and sit-ins under Section 144 to maintain law and order in the province.
