Islamabad: In a novel move, Islamabad police on Saturday forbade hotels and guesthouses in the federal capital from housing participants in the long march spearheaded by the former Pakistani premier Imran Khan to pressure the administration into announcing a date for early general elections.
According to a directive from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) dated October 28, television networks are not to broadcast speeches by PTI officials or the long march in real time.
According to the PEMRA, during a speech it was noted that “statements against state institutions were aired live” in defiance of the code of conduct and court orders. It issued a warning that failure to comply would result in legal action, which could result in licence suspensions or revocations.
Hotels in Islamabad are not allowed to accommodate Imran Khan’s March attendees
The participants in the lengthy “Haqeeqi Azadi March,” which started late on Friday afternoon in Lahore, progressed slowly as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party staged rallies in the Ichhra, Mozang, Data Sahib, and Azadi Chowk neighbourhoods.
The march came to an end yesterday night at Data Darbar and will continue on Saturday.
On November 4, it intends to travel up the storied GT Road and arrive in Islamabad to organise a sit-in that may turn into a large protest march.
The PTI’s long march, according to Khan, cannot be stopped by anyone, and his supporters must wait for his next move until he arrives in Islamabad.
In a video released by Aaj TV, he said to a journalist, “As to what would happen when we reach Islamabad, you have to wait as to what I decide after reaching Islamabad.”
On the second day, the convoy would go from Muridke to Kamoke, where the PTI chairman will reportedly address his supporters.
The event will next move on to Gujranwala City, where Khan will speak to a crowd of people there.
The rally will start in Gujranwala and travel via Daska and Sambrial to Sialkot before finishing at Wazirabad for an overnight stay.
According to the long march’s schedule, the caravan would arrive in Gujarat the following morning, where Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will greet it. There, Khan will give a speech to a crowd of people.
Convoys from Punjab’s north and south will also join the long march in Rawat in Islamabad’s outskirts, from where they will march into the nation’s capital.
The federal capital’s hotels and guesthouses were not allowed to accommodate the marchers, according to Islamabad police.
An official notification from the police accompanied the command. It stated that lodging establishments would be inspected daily. Those who disobey will be subject to harsh punishment.
The protest, according to Khan, 70, was intended to compel the administration to call early elections in order to gain true independence. He vowed to maintain peace and avoid the highly secure Red Zone, which is home to government offices and embassies. But because of his history of U-turns, many people don’t trust his statements.
Khan requested permission to organise the rally in Islamabad, but it has not yet been granted since the capital administration has asked PTI leaders for an explanation after the party’s previous public meeting on May 25 in Islamabad, which was disrupted by violations of the terms and conditions.
The administration was also ordered by the government to get information from the party regarding the locations of their gatherings, the time at which the protest would be called off, the approximate number of participants, and the precise path used by lengthy marchers as they entered Islamabad.
Since there is concern that violence may break out if the marchers are forcibly blocked from entering the city, the administration has implemented extensive security measures to handle the issue.
There would be paramilitary and police personnel present to handle the situation. If things spiralled out of control, regular troops would be on hand.
Khan stated that although he has a lot to say, he doesn’t want the army to suffer any harm in an interview with wit.
“I want our army to develop into a powerful institution and that nothing bad happens to it. I can talk as much as I want, but I don’t want Pakistan’s adversaries to capitalise on it. I don’t want to say anything that could harm the army in any way. Additionally, he claimed that the country was unified and had made the decision not to accept the “robbers foisted on them by a foreign conspiracy.”
The nation wants free and fair elections and will not tolerate these robbers at any cost, he added, adding that when the march approaches Islamabad, this will become evident to everyone.
He claimed that the PTI’s demand was for early elections in a different interview with Dunya News TV.
Elections are what we want, not Army meddling, Khan said.
He said that the “party has just begun” in response to a query about the sit-in.
