Rawalpindi Admin Imposes Ban on Gatherings Ahead of PTI’s August 5 Protest

News Desk

Rawalpindi/Islamabad: The Rawalpindi district administration has imposed a one-week ban on all public gatherings and assemblies, citing an “imminent threat” to law and order, ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned nationwide protest on August 5.

The restriction, enforced under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, will remain in effect from August 4 to 10.

The order prohibits rallies, demonstrations, processions, sit-ins, and any assembly of five or more people. It also bans the carrying of weapons or potential weapons, including batons, spikes, ball bearings, and petrol bombs, along with the display of arms, use of loudspeakers, and pillion riding.

The decision follows a nationwide protest call issued by imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023 at Adiala Jail in connection with a £190 million corruption case and multiple other charges, including those under the Anti-Terrorism Act linked to the May 9, 2023 unrest.

The Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema said the ban was prompted by intelligence reports from the District Intelligence Committee, warning of potential violence and disruption targeting sensitive locations and infrastructure.

“There is specific intelligence that certain elements are mobilising to disturb the peace, particularly near key installations and soft targets,” the order stated. “To ensure public safety and prevent any untoward incident, immediate action is necessary.”

Heightened Security at Adiala Jail

In a related development, the Adiala Jail administration has requested increased security around the facility, anticipating protests by PTI workers and family members of party leaders, particularly outside the jail premises.

A letter from the jail superintendent to the Rawalpindi City Police Officer urged urgent deployment of additional personnel, installation of barricades, and enhanced surveillance to preempt any disruptive activity.

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“Given the sensitivity of the situation, outer security of the jail must be strengthened to prevent any unpleasant incident,” the superintendent wrote, citing social media posts suggesting a protest outside the jail on Tuesday.

PTI’s Protest Strategy and Government Response

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has clarified that the party does not plan to hold a centralized gathering on August 5. Instead, protests will be staged simultaneously at various locations across the country.

Despite internal calls from Imran Khan urging party unity and stronger mobilisation, reports indicate PTI leadership remains divided over the protest’s structure and legal planning. The party recently approached the Lahore High Court to seek permission for a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan and also submitted a request to the Islamabad administration to hold a workers’ convention at F-9 Park on August 6.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, speaking on Geo News’ program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, stated that while protest is a democratic right, PTI had failed to provide legal cover or maintain internal coherence in its protest planning. “They must not blame the government for their internal disunity,” he said.

Islamabad Police Prepare for Protest

In anticipation of demonstrations, Islamabad’s Anti-Riot Unit has initiated refresher training and physical exercises for over 1,000 personnel. The training includes use of anti-riot kits, shield tactics, crowd control, and techniques to disperse unlawful assemblies.

Intelligence units have also stepped up surveillance of local PTI leaders and activists, monitoring their movements across hotels, guesthouses, and suburbs of the capital. Law enforcement officials are reportedly updating lists of “hardcore” PTI members and maintaining strict vigilance over their activities.

The measures signal a coordinated security operation in both Rawalpindi and Islamabad, as the PTI’s August 5 protest — intended to mark two years of Imran Khan’s incarceration — reaches its peak.