PTI protest: All educational institutions to remain closed in Islamabad, Rawalpindi tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The district administrations have announced the closure of educational institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi tomorrow (Monday) amid Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) "do-or-die" protest call.

The decision has been taken in view of the prevailing situation, stated a notification issued by the capital administration.

It added that the notification will be applicable to all educational institutions in the federal capital.

The development came as the former ruling party plans to stage a "do-or-die" protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk against the "illegal" incarceration of PTI founder Imran Khan, other party leaders and workers, "stolen mandate" in February 8 general elections and 26th Constitutional Amendment.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had directed the authorities concerned not to allow the party to stage demonstration in the federal capital in violation of the newly enacted peaceful assembly law.

The protests coincide with the upcoming visit of the Belarusian president, scheduled from November 25 to 27, adding to the government’s concerns about maintaining law and order.

Meanwhile, internet services have witnessed disruptions in the federal capital along with Karachi, Peshawar and other cities, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi saying: “Mobile services are working while the Internet has been shut down.”

Security measures include the deployment of hundreds of police, Rangers, and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, sealing Islamabad’s entry and exit points, and enforcing Section 144.

Apart from the Islamabad administration, the Punjab government too has imposed Section 144 across the province for three days from November 23 to November 25 and has put over 10,700 police personnel on standby.

The Imran Khan-founded party, in recent months, has marched onto the federal capital on multiple occasions which has seen its workers clashing with the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).