210 Containers, 200,000 Sandbags for Islamabad Entry Points
Police mobilise additional personnel, containers and crowd-management equipment as security restrictions expand around Islamabad’s entry points and Red Zone ahead of PTI’s September 27 march.
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police and the capital administration have stepped up security preparations ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned long march towards the federal capital on September 27, with additional personnel, containers and crowd-management equipment being mobilised across key locations.
Information shared with Islamabad Tribune indicates that police have prepared a detailed list of logistical requirements for the security operation, including containers for blocking selected entry points, sandbags, cranes and crowd-control equipment.
According to the information, Islamabad Police have identified a requirement for 210 containers specifically for blocking city entry points, while more than 200,000 sandbags have also been arranged as part of the preparations. Police have also made arrangements for 110,000 tear-gas shells, while around 1,300 launchers are said to be available and another 500 have been ordered. The capital police also have 22 cranes available for positioning and removing containers.
These specific equipment figures could not all be independently confirmed through publicly available official statements. However, broader security preparations are corroborated by multiple reports. Dawn reported that contractors had committed to providing around 1,550 containers, including 350 for the Red Zone, while roughly 1,000 were planned for entry points, major roads and high-security areas.
Red Zone Security Tightened as Deployments Expand
Security restrictions have already become visible across Islamabad. The Red Zone and its extended security perimeter have been placed under heightened security, while containers and other barriers have been positioned at sensitive locations. Reports earlier this week said authorities planned extensive restrictions around Red Zone access points.
The security footprint has also expanded beyond the capital. Police personnel from other provinces have been requisitioned, while additional law-enforcement deployments are being made in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock. Aaj News reported on September 23 that more than 22,000 security personnel were being deployed across Islamabad, including personnel from Punjab and Sindh as well as Rangers and Frontier Corps.
Major Routes Face Restrictions Ahead of March
Major road links between Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also facing restrictions. According to the National Highways and Motorway Police information reported by Aaj News, the M-1, M-14, Hazara Motorway and certain connecting routes were scheduled to close from 11pm on September 23 until further notice as part of the security measures.
PTI has announced its march for September 27, with the mobilisation taking place amid heightened political tensions. Reuters has also confirmed the September 27 protest plan in its reporting on developments preceding the march.
With several days remaining before the announced march, security arrangements and traffic restrictions remain subject to change depending on decisions by the federal government, Islamabad administration and law-enforcement authorities.
