Islamabad: Large numbers of shipping containers have been positioned at key roads, intersections and approaches to Islamabad’s Red Zone as authorities tighten security ahead of a series of announced protest marches. The unusual concentration of containers prompted ProPakistani to jokingly describe the capital as looking like a “global shipping giant,” but the containers are being used as security barriers, not for shipping operations.
The immediate security preparations coincide with Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest campaign against the petroleum levy, which began on September 20 and is expected to reach Islamabad later, while PTI has separately announced a march toward the capital for September 27. Authorities have sealed or prepared to seal several Red Zone approaches with containers and deployed additional security personnel.
The exact number of containers has not been officially confirmed by Islamabad Police. However, the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association says nearly 1,000 commercial containers have been taken into custody, while an earlier media report said around 600 had already reached Islamabad with arrangements being made for as many as 1,000.
The disruption has also affected freight operators. Transporters say many detained containers belong to commercial operators and some were carrying valuable goods. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi subsequently ordered authorities to immediately release containers and vehicles carrying medicines, confirming that medicine-carrying freight had been caught up in the security arrangements.
