ISLAMABAD: The administrations of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have started preparations to counter the PTI’s announced countrywide protest, including a request for detention of activists, arranging containers, seeking additional personnel and procuring anti-riot gear.

The Islamabad police are also collecting information related to the protest, including preparations by the political party and activities of its leaders, workers and activists.

Sources in the police said contractors who provide and arrange containers for the police had been alerted, and a demand for over 1,000 containers had been made. The contractors were asked to arrange containers of different sizes, which would be used to seal the Red Zone, High Security Zone and the capital’s entry and exit points.

The containers would also be used to seal the main avenues and highways of the capital to intercept the movement of protesters during the demonstration and block the entry of protesters coming to Islamabad from other parts of the country.

Rawalpindi administration issues detention orders for 30 PTI activists while capital police seek 1,000 containers

The police’s demand for containers is very high across the country due to the announced protest. Besides the capital police, the provincial police forces of Punjab and Sindh are also making similar demands, resulting in a shortage of containers for the contractors.

The contractors were asked to arrange the maximum number of containers. In case of a shortage, the police will arrange the containers independently.

Over 100 containers have been arranged for the capital and placed along roadsides at different locations, including the ITP headquarters, Faizabad, Tarnol and Sangjani.

A security plan is also being prepared to assess the number of personnel required for security duties. A demand for manpower from other provinces will be made to strengthen the capital police for law and order duties during the protest.

Likely, over 15,000 personnel will be requested from the Punjab and Sindh police, along with the Federal Constabulary and Rangers. The anti-riot unit has also been alerted and asked to check and audit its stock and make a fresh demand for anti-riot gear, including long- and short-range teargas shells and teargas guns.

The intelligence wings and units of the capital police and Special Branch have been asked to gather information regarding preparations for the protest and the activities of PTI local leaders, activists and workers. Vigilance and intelligence gathering are being intensified around them and their places of stay to keep an eye on them and collect information.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi administration issued detention orders of more than 30 PTI workers and activists under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

Under Section 3, administrative officers such as deputy commissioners or district magistrates can order preventive detention for individuals to prevent perceived threats, protests or disruptions.

The detention orders were issued for 30 days and can sometimes be extended to 90 days, said a police official.

A citizen had challenged the PTI’s sit-in and nationwide protest scheduled for Sept 27 in the IHC on the grounds that it could disrupt routine life, traffic and business activities in the federal capital. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi spent the past few days in Sindh to mobilise party supporters for the Sept 27 protest.

A senior police official told Dawn that the district administration and police had been waiting for the court’s decision regarding the PTI protest and that a security plan would be chalked out afterwards.

“Definitely, the entry points will be sealed with containers and other obstacles, in addition to heavy deployment of law enforcement to maintain law and order,” he said.

— Kalbe Ali also contributed to the story

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2026