The Islamabad march of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has now become a major point of political conflict in Pakistan. This march, which started on October 4 under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, has been taken out with the demand for the release of Imran Khan.

The convoy has reached Karak district and is preparing to proceed towards Islamabad. But the biggest question in this entire incident is security. The Pakistani government has expressed apprehensions that militants could push through security cordons and checkposts amid crowds of protesters.

Concern has also been expressed about the situation

This raises the question whether the government is really fearing a major threat or the ground is being prepared to stop the PTI’s march by creating a security issue. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi have also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and the PTI’s long march.

March for the release of Imran Khan

PTI has announced this march for the release of its founder and jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The party says this is part of its political battle and aims to demand supremacy of law and constitution. A large number of supporters gathered at Lakki Marwat on Sunday and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led the march.

“They wanted to impose their will on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but I made it clear that only Imran Khan’s thinking and policies will be implemented here. We do not accept any policy that is not in the interest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakhtuns,” Afridi told supporters.

Expressed concern about the entry of terrorists

As soon as March started, a new discussion about security has started in Pakistan. There were concerns from the President of the Pakistan KP Governor’s House and officials associated with the government that there might be an attempt to force terrorists to cross security checkposts during the march. However, as these are the government’s apprehensions and allegations, no independent evidence has surfaced in the news to prove that militants have infiltrated PTI supporters.

The government has warned

Which makes the whole matter more interesting. Does the government have any concrete information or is the issue of terrorism being raised to create political pressure to not allow the march to go ahead? The central government and PTI are already at loggerheads over this march. The government has warned that protesters will not be allowed to enter Islamabad. On the other hand, PTI leaders have decided to continue the march. Options such as governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also been discussed by the Centre.

Section 144 has been enforced in many districts

The police have been kept on high alert in view of the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The police chief told Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi that redundant policemen have been recalled from various districts and kept in police lines, so that they can be deployed immediately in case of emergency. Section 144 has been invoked in several districts in view of PTI’s proposed Islamabad march. Movement of people and vehicles has been banned in DI Khan, Tank, Hangu and South Waziristan. Officials cited law and order, terror threat and public security as the main reasons behind the move.