Pakistani authorities have imposed stringent measures across Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a planned protest march by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a prominent hardline Sunni religious group. The crackdown, triggered by escalating tensions over the Gaza conflict, includes the indefinite suspension of mobile internet services, the closure of major arterial roads, and the enforcement of Section 144 restrictions prohibiting public gatherings. These actions, which began in the early hours of Friday, October 10, 2025, aim to safeguard sensitive government installations and prevent potential violence, reflecting the government's proactive stance against disruptions in the twin cities.
The catalyst for this response was the TLP's announcement of a high-profile march to Islamabad, explicitly organized to condemn the ongoing killings in Gaza—a cause that has galvanized international attention amid a fragile regional truce between Israel and Hamas. The group's leadership, including chief Saad Rizvi, intended the demonstration to draw massive crowds to the capital's core, echoing TLP's storied history of mobilizing supporters for political leverage. As recently as Thursday evening, police raided the TLP headquarters in Punjab province in an attempt to arrest Rizvi, sparking immediate clashes that left around a dozen officers injured and several protesters wounded. This incident prompted a rapid escalation, with violence rippling across the region and underscoring the volatile undercurrents fueling the planned sit-in.
Security protocols were activated swiftly. A formal directive from the Ministry of Interior, dated October 9 and addressed to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman, authorized the shutdown of 3G and 4G mobile services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, effective from midnight and set to continue "until further orders." This digital blackout extends to both internal city routes and external access points, severely hampering communication for residents reliant on mobile data for work, news, and daily coordination.
Concurrently, major thoroughfares leading into the capital have been barricaded using shipping containers, transforming key entryways into fortified chokepoints. Riot-geared police units have been stationed at strategic locations, particularly around the heavily secured Red Zone, which encompasses vital government buildings, foreign embassies, and diplomatic missions. Access to this enclave has been completely sealed, with checkpoints enforcing rigorous vehicle and pedestrian screenings.
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The imposition of Section 144 across Punjab province for a 10-day period, and specifically in Rawalpindi district until October 11, further tightens the noose. This colonial-era legal provision bans assemblies of four or more individuals, processions, rallies, sit-ins, and the use of loudspeakers, while prohibiting the open display of arms. Exemptions are granted for essential activities such as religious prayers, weddings, funerals, court proceedings, and official business, but the overall effect is a clampdown on any form of public dissent. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema justified the order by citing "the risk of violent acts near sensitive installations," emphasizing the proximity of protest routes to high-security zones. Police spokespersons confirmed that "both internal and external city routes, along with mobile internet, were shut in view of the protest," underscoring the comprehensive nature of the blockade.
For ordinary citizens in the affected areas, the fallout is immediate and multifaceted. Commuters navigating the bustling twin cities—home to over 2 million people—face prolonged detours and gridlock, with public transport rerouted and private vehicles funneled through limited corridors. The internet suspension has isolated communities, disrupting online banking, remote work, and real-time updates on the unfolding crisis, particularly acute for students, freelancers, and small business owners. In a nation where mobile penetration exceeds 80%, such outages evoke memories of past blackouts during political upheavals, amplifying public frustration and concerns over freedom of expression. Humanitarian impacts are also emerging, as delayed medical appointments and disrupted supply chains strain urban resilience, especially in low-income neighborhoods already grappling with inflation and energy shortages.
This episode is not isolated but part of a broader pattern in Pakistan's volatile political landscape. The TLP, which burst onto the national stage in 2017 with paralyzing nationwide protests that compelled the government to rescind amendments to parliamentarians' oaths regarding the finality of Prophet Muhammad's prophethood, has since become a formidable force in leveraging religious sentiments for mobilization. Its campaigns have repeatedly tested the state's authority, from sit-ins that gridlocked Lahore to demands for blasphemy law enforcement. The current Gaza-focused agitation taps into global Muslim solidarity, potentially swelling TLP's ranks amid reports of similar demonstrations in other cities. Analysts note that while the measures may avert immediate chaos, they risk alienating moderate supporters and fueling underground resentment, especially as the group vows to press forward despite the hurdles.
As the day progresses, authorities remain on high alert, with contingency plans for aerial surveillance and additional troop deployments if the situation deteriorates. TLP leaders, undeterred, have called on followers to converge peacefully, framing the crackdown as an assault on legitimate grievances. International observers, including human rights watchdogs, are monitoring closely, wary of escalations that could draw parallels to previous curbs on assembly rights. With the Gaza truce hanging in the balance, Pakistan's streets stand as a microcosm of intertwined regional and domestic fault lines, where faith, fury, and fortification collide. The coming hours will test the resolve of both protesters and enforcers, as the capital holds its breath amid the shadows of suspended signals and sealed gates.
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