The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has issued a security warning about a potential terrorist threat targeting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest scheduled in Islamabad, according to Express News.
NACTA’s alert highlights concerns about an attack by militants who recently entered Pakistan from Afghanistan, specifically members of the group “Fitna al-Khawarij,” previously known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group reportedly crossed the Pak-Afghan border on the night of November 19-20, with the PTI demonstration identified as a potential target.
In response, security in Islamabad has been intensified. Authorities have been directed to stay on high alert and bolster measures at the protest site to avert any incidents.
Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed PTI’s Barrister Gohar that the government would not allow rallies or sit-ins in Islamabad during the upcoming official visit of a Belarusian delegation. President Alexander Lukashenko, along with an 80-member team, is set to visit the city from November 24 to 27.
As PTI prepares for its November 24 protest, strict security protocols have been implemented. Section 144 has been imposed across Punjab for three days, and thousands of security personnel have been deployed in Islamabad. Key areas, including the Red Zone, have been sealed off with containers, and Rangers have been stationed at vital government buildings. Roads like the Srinagar Highway, GT Road, and routes to Islamabad Airport have been blocked, while D-Chowk is heavily guarded by police and Frontier Corps (FC).
Additionally, mobile and internet services have been partially suspended in Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a precaution. Public transport services, including metro buses in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, have been halted, and bus terminals at Faizabad have been cordoned off.
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