Political Turmoil in Pakistan: Islamabad and Rawalpindi Locked Down Ahead of PTI Protests

Islamabad, September 24 (Daily Kiran) : The Pakistani government has sealed off Islamabad and Rawalpindi in a bid to address the ongoing political crisis. This move, however, is unlikely to alleviate the turmoil stemming from economic mismanagement and political instability under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s administration.

According to a report from The Friday Times, the government has been increasing fuel prices daily, with protests led by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) failing to exert pressure on officials. Monis Ahmar, a professor of international relations at Karachi University, noted in a prominent Pakistani daily that the government’s excessive reaction to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests is evident. Authorities are deploying hundreds of containers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to prevent PTI’s long march, resorting to mass arrests and heavy-handed tactics.

Despite crude oil prices dropping below $100 per barrel, the Pakistani government has not reduced petrol and diesel prices. Pakistan remains unique in its daily review of fuel prices, reflecting a lack of accountability among officials who seem unconcerned about the impact of rising costs on the public.

Ahmar pointed out that the government is more focused on maintaining its lavish lifestyle and servicing domestic and foreign debts than on alleviating the financial burdens on citizens. In addition to fuel price hikes, there have been increases in electricity tariffs, gas, and the prices of essential goods like vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, flour, and cooking oil.

The report highlighted that the 26th and 27th amendments allow Pakistani authorities to suppress any public dissent, leading military establishments and their civilian allies to believe that economic challenges are fueling discontent. Ahmar emphasized that the judiciary is under control, the media is subdued, and civil society is weakened, with coalition partners lacking a coherent strategy to protect democracy.

He warned that the government can only maintain its grip through force until civil society, lawyers, the media, and the youth decide to challenge the status quo.

Ahmar stressed that isolating Islamabad and Rawalpindi will not effectively manage the serious crisis at hand. The economic costs of sealing off the capital are significant, and such actions tarnish the country’s image. If military representatives are indeed contemplating measures to avoid a civil war-like situation, it must be grounded in wisdom and strategic insight. Ultimately, the coalition government has fully exposed its vulnerabilities due to mismanagement of economic, political, and governance issues.

In a related report, local authorities have imposed a two-month ban on all forms of gatherings and processions in Islamabad ahead of PTI’s planned protests on September 27. This includes a prohibition on assemblies of five or more people in public places, including the Red Zone.

The Punjab government has also enacted a 13-day ban on public gatherings across the province, closing roads and businesses in Attock and Rawalpindi, and deploying Rangers in four districts.