Containing the march

Published August 13, 2014
Roads leading towards Islamabad being blocked with containers ahead of PTI’s 'Azadi march.' — Photo by INP
Roads leading towards Islamabad being blocked with containers ahead of PTI’s 'Azadi march.' — Photo by INP
Pedestrians walk around a container in Islamabad August 12, 2014. — Photo by Reuters
Pedestrians walk around a container in Islamabad August 12, 2014. — Photo by Reuters
Pakistani authorities place containers on the road leading to Parliament House to stop activists of PTI and PAT.— Photo by AP
Pakistani authorities place containers on the road leading to Parliament House to stop activists of PTI and PAT.— Photo by AP
A view of security arrangement taken by local administration for upcoming protest marches in Islamabad. — Photo by INP
A view of security arrangement taken by local administration for upcoming protest marches in Islamabad. — Photo by INP
Workers laying barbwires as the security beefed up in Islamabad. — Photo by INP
Workers laying barbwires as the security beefed up in Islamabad. — Photo by INP
A labourer uses an excavator to fill sand into shipping containers placed by security forces as roadblocks in Islamabad on August 13, 2014, ahead of the country's Independence Day celebrations and protest marches by opposition parties against government.— Photo by AFP
A labourer uses an excavator to fill sand into shipping containers placed by security forces as roadblocks in Islamabad on August 13, 2014, ahead of the country's Independence Day celebrations and protest marches by opposition parties against government.— Photo by AFP
People face hardships due to blocking of roads in the capital city. — Photo by Online
People face hardships due to blocking of roads in the capital city. — Photo by Online
A woman walks on a major highway as containers, which are to be used to block roads during a planned protest march, are seen in the background,  in Islamabad August 12, 2014. — Photo by Reuters
A woman walks on a major highway as containers, which are to be used to block roads during a planned protest march, are seen in the background, in Islamabad August 12, 2014. — Photo by Reuters
A view of security arrangements taken by local administration in Islamabad. — Photo by INP
A view of security arrangements taken by local administration in Islamabad. — Photo by INP
The red zone and diplomatic enclave areas in Islamabad have been sealed off and mobile phone- internet service have also been  suspended. — Photo by INP
The red zone and diplomatic enclave areas in Islamabad have been sealed off and mobile phone- internet service have also been suspended. — Photo by INP
Roads leading towards Islamabad being blocked with containers ahead of  protests announced by the PTI and PAT for Aug 14. — Photo by INP
Roads leading towards Islamabad being blocked with containers ahead of protests announced by the PTI and PAT for Aug 14. — Photo by INP
Ahead of planned massive anti-government protests, Pakistan police officers place barricades at an entrance to Islamabad, Pakistan Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. — Photo by AP
Ahead of planned massive anti-government protests, Pakistan police officers place barricades at an entrance to Islamabad, Pakistan Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. — Photo by AP
Workers are busy digging in Islamabad to prepare security arrangement ahead of the opposition's march on Aug 14. — Photo by Online
Workers are busy digging in Islamabad to prepare security arrangement ahead of the opposition's march on Aug 14. — Photo by Online
Workers are busy  digging as part of security arrangements in Islamabad ahead of the  PTI and PAT protests. — Photo by Online
Workers are busy digging as part of security arrangements in Islamabad ahead of the PTI and PAT protests. — Photo by Online
Empty containers to be used as roadblocks lie on the highway ahead of a march by the opposition, in Islamabad on August 12, 2014.  — Photo by AFP
Empty containers to be used as roadblocks lie on the highway ahead of a march by the opposition, in Islamabad on August 12, 2014. — Photo by AFP
Workers are busy  digging as part of security arrangements in Islamabad ahead of the  PTI and PAT protests. — Photo by Online
Workers are busy digging as part of security arrangements in Islamabad ahead of the PTI and PAT protests. — Photo by Online
Rangers and police personnel stand guard in Islamabad. — Photo by AFP
Rangers and police personnel stand guard in Islamabad. — Photo by AFP
Soldiers roll out barbed wire from a vehicle as they patrol in  'Red zone' area of Islamabad on August 13, 2014.— Photo by AFP
Soldiers roll out barbed wire from a vehicle as they patrol in 'Red zone' area of Islamabad on August 13, 2014.— Photo by AFP
Soldiers ride in a vehicle as they patrol in a 'red zone' area of Islamabad on August 13, 2014, ahead of the country independence day and proposed protest marches by opposition parties against government. — Photo by AFP
Soldiers ride in a vehicle as they patrol in a 'red zone' area of Islamabad on August 13, 2014, ahead of the country independence day and proposed protest marches by opposition parties against government. — Photo by AFP
Policemen stand next to their vehicles in Islamabad ahead of the protest marches announced by the PTI and PAT for Aug 14. — Photo by AFP
Policemen stand next to their vehicles in Islamabad ahead of the protest marches announced by the PTI and PAT for Aug 14. — Photo by AFP
Ahead of planned massive anti-government protests, Pakistani police force deploy in Islamabad. — Photo by AP
Ahead of planned massive anti-government protests, Pakistani police force deploy in Islamabad. — Photo by AP
Ahead of planned massive anti-government protests, Pakistani police force deploy at an entrance to Islamabad.   — Photo by AP
Ahead of planned massive anti-government protests, Pakistani police force deploy at an entrance to Islamabad. — Photo by AP
FC soldiers arrived in the capital to perform duties during Aug 14.— Photo by Online
FC soldiers arrived in the capital to perform duties during Aug 14.— Photo by Online
FC soldiers arrived in the capital to perform duties during Aug 14.— Photo by Online
FC soldiers arrived in the capital to perform duties during Aug 14.— Photo by Online
A paramilitary soldier stands guard inside a bunker as police officers check vehicles at a partially closed road in Islamabad.   — Photo by AP
A paramilitary soldier stands guard inside a bunker as police officers check vehicles at a partially closed road in Islamabad. — Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chairman Tahirul Qadri vowed to hold protest rallies on 14th August in Islamabad, calling it the ‘Azadi March’ and ‘Inqilabi March’ respectively, following which the government blocked several roads including entry/ exit points in the capital city and parts of Punjab using shipping containers to avoid any untoward situation.

Both the PAT and PTI are protesting against the government over corruption charges and massive-rigging that allegedly took place during the general elections held in May 2013.

The government had sought the military’s assistance in assisting the civilian administration maintain law and order in the federal capital city for three months under Article 245 of the Constitution.

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