Islamabad — Pakistan Army troops were on Saturday deployed here to ensure security as jailed former premier Imran Khan’s party moved forward with plans for a protest.

Mobilised under Article 245 of the Constitution, the army would remain in the city from October 5-17 to maintain law and order for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Pakistan is hosting the SCO summit on October 15-16.

The deployment comes as supporters the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur moved ahead to reach the D-Chowk here to hold a protest called by Khan. The PTI is protesting for the release of its founder, Khan, while also expressing solidarity with the judiciary.

The 72-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician Khan refused to postpone the protest despite calls by the government.

Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Muhammad Ali Saif, told Geo News that the army units were deployed to deal with the PTI’s ongoing protest in the capital.

He added the army had been mobilised to ensure the security of the upcoming SCO summit. “We hold Pakistan Army in esteem,” he said, asserting that the party has no conflict with the army.

Meanwhile, the protest caravan led by Gandapur, which started its journey from the Swabi area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, reached Buhran in the Attock region of Punjab around midnight.

According to Saif, Gandapur will stay for the night, and his convoy will resume its journey to D-Chowk on Saturday. “CM Gandapur will make it to D-Chowk, no matter what,” he said. The authorities have taken strict measures to stop the PTI from entering the city or making it to the D-Chowk. All highways leading to the city have been blocked and pillion riding has been banned, while mobile phone services remained suspended for the second consecutive day.

The authorities also imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to outlaw any political assembly or protest. Section 144 bans public gatherings, political assemblies, and demonstrations.

The Metro bus services linking the twin cities were also suspended.

Police and paramilitary Rangers were also deployed to stop the protestors. The authorities have further strengthened the security of the city by deploying regular army troops.

After taking an aerial view of the federal capital late Friday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that the city administration and the police were ready to deal with any possible situation.

“Nobody will be allowed to disrupt law and order [in Islamabad],” he warned, directing the authorities to deal with the miscreants with iron hands.

Meanwhile, the PTI has also given a protest call in Lahore, where its supporters have been asked to reach Minar-e-Pakistan Park to stage a protest.

The government has declared that it would counter the move and announced the imposition of Section 144 in the city.

The PTI leadership instructed its Lahore chapter to abstain from participating in the D-Chowk protest to avoid arrest and save strength for the Lahore power show.

PTI Punjab acting president Hammad Azhar, who is in self-imposed hiding, said that the people of Lahore would participate in the protest by rejecting the alleged fascism of the provincial government. — (PTI)

Islamabad — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said on Friday that police arrested former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sisters – Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, from D Chowk in Islamabad “for exercising her right of peaceful protest.”

Calling the government “fake and victim of panic,” Imran Khan-founded party said that the government is crossing all limits of fascism by depriving people of their basis rights to maintain their “illegitimate power.”

In a post on X, PTI stated, “Former PM Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan has been arrested by the police at D Chowk for exercising her right of Peaceful Protest. Such is the state of affairs in Pakistan under a fascist regime where citizens have been completely ripped of their fundamental rights.”

In another post on X, PTI said, “Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan has been arrested by the police for holding a peaceful protest at D Chowk. This is the reality of this fascist government which is crossing all limits of fascism by depriving citizens of their basic rights to maintain their illegitimate power.”

The party also mentioned about Uzma Khan’s arrest on X, stating, “Imran Khan that sister Uzmi Khan was also illegally arrested from D Chowk, the fake government is a victim of panic. “

Police arrested Aleema and Uzma Khan when they reached D-Chowk to join PTI workers in the planned demonstration. Police have taken them to the secretariat police station, ARY News reported.

Earlier in the day, the Punjab government deployed Rangers personnel in four cities of the province after imposing Section 144 to ban political gatherings, protests and rallies, the report said.

In addition, Section 144 has been imposed in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Sargodha. Furthermore, rangers have been called in to assist in maintaining law and order, according to ARY News report.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has requested the services of three companies of Rangers in Lahore, particularly for October 5. Section 144 will remain in effect in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Sargodha for three days from October 4 to October 6. — (ANI)

Tel Aviv — The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it has eliminated 2000-plus military targets and 250 Hezbollah terrorists since it began targetted and demarcated ground operations in southern Lebanon, four days ago.

“Directing fire and intelligence of the divisions and the Northern Command, five commanders at the level of the brigade, 10 company commanders and six platoon commanders were eliminated,” stated IDF.

At the same time, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is also conducting preemptive strikes during these intelligence-based operations in southern Lebanon.

“The forces of Division 98 were the first to begin a ground operation at the beginning of the week, and later 36 also entered. The forces operate in the formation of brigade attacks that combine air activity alongside tanks and artillery,” mentioned IDF.

During the operation, the IDF eliminated Hezbollah terrorists entrenched in buildings and also destroyed their weapons cache, including ready-to-launch launchers.

The IDF troops also discovered dozens of weapons “aimed at Israeli territory” that were left behind in buildings and civilian homes, including anti-tank missiles, firearms, observation posts and a buried explosive device.

“The Air Force forces operate above and around the forces at all hours of the day – from preliminary attacks on military targets in the raid targets to removing threats in space through collection and attack missions. So far, about 250 terrorists have been eliminated from the ground and the air, over 2,000 military targets have been attacked, including terrorists, terrorist infrastructures, military buildings, munitions warehouses, launchers and more,” the IDF detailed.

Earlier in the day, the IDF confirmed that it had eliminated Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Communications Unit, during a “precise, intelligence-based strike” in Beirut on Thursday.

“Sakafi was a senior Hezbollah terrorist, who was responsible for the communications unit since 2000. Sakafi invested significant efforts to develop communication capabilities between all of Hezbollah’s units,” the Israeli force claimed. — (IANS)

KD NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: The Israeli government has taken down a map that wrongly depicted a part of Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan on the country’s official website following massive outrage on social media. Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, addressed the issue, saying that the map was taken down and it was the website’s editor’s mistake.

The issue was brought to X, formerly Twitter, by a user. “India stands with Israel. But does Israel stand with India? Note the map of India (pay attention to Jammu and Kashmir) on Israel’s official website,” the X user wrote.

India stands with Israel. But does Israel stand with India?

Reacting to the tweet, Azar said, “Website editor’s mistake. Thank you for noticing. Was taken down.” Following this, the user thanked the Israeli government and said, “Greatly appreciate Government of Israel’s proactive step to remove the incorrect map of India. Demonstrates Israel’s friendship with India, and genuine desire to strengthen the friendship. India stands with Israel.”