Punjab seeks Rangers deployment for four districts ahead of PTI march

Punjab's government has written to the federal interior ministry asking for Rangers to be deployed in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali ahead of a possible Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march planned for 27 September. According to BBC Urdu, the request was made 'in view of the expected law and order situation'. Aaj News reported that the provincial home department also asked for army deployment in Rawalpindi, and that the requested deployment of army and Rangers would remain in place until 5 October.

Meanwhile, motorway police closed several key routes from 11pm until further orders. A motorway police spokesman said the M1 from Islamabad Toll Plaza to Chhachh Interchange, the M14 from Hakla to Kandl, the GT Road at Attock Khurd, the E35 Hazara Motorway at Hazara Interlink, Rawalpindi Kohat Road at Khushal Garh, and the Abbottabad-Hasan Abdal Road at Jhari Kas check post were all closed to traffic.

In Islamabad, authorities used around 1,200 containers to seal the Red Zone from all sides, with double layers at some points, security sources told Aaj News. Two of the five entry points to the Red Zone were completely closed. Containers were also placed at Tarnol, Sangjani, Shahrah-e-Iran, 26 Number Chungi, Srinagar Highway, T-Chowk Rawat and Faizabad, and the route from Kashmir near Bhara Kahu was shut.

More than 22,000 security personnel have been deployed in the capital, including over 13,000 police from Punjab and Sindh, according to police officials. FC and Rangers personnel have also arrived. Eight DIGs, 10 SSPs, 40 SPs, 58 DSPs and 266 inspectors are on duty across sub-sectors. Some educational institutions are being used to house security personnel, affecting academic activities. Authorities said monitoring is being done through more than 15,000 CCTV cameras and drones.