ISLAMABAD: The capital’s Red Zone – one of the most heavily policed areas in the country – will be sealed on Friday to protect the Diplomatic Enclave during a protest against the mass killing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, officials said on Wednesday.

Religious and political parties and groups have announced plans to protest on Friday to condemn the killings and express solidarity with Rohingya Muslims by marching to the embassy of Myanmar, which is located inside the Diplomatic Enclave.

Meetings were held following this announcement to devise a strategy for the protest, and officials contacted representatives of the relevant parties and groups, police and administration officials said.

They said issues were discussed verbally with the representatives to gain details of their protests. It would also help government functionaries make arrangements for a peaceful protest and protect the public, buildings and the Red Zone, which houses foreign missions.

Written permission has not been asked for from the capital administration so far, they added.

Senior police officers and administration officials also met and decided to seal the Red Zone, they said, adding that they would seal the area using shipping containers and by deploying police and paramilitary forces such as the Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary.

A security plan has been devised for the event which will require more manpower, officials said. Because of the shortage of personnel, assistance has been sought from other provinces’ police forces and paramilitary troops.

Officials said information is being collected on the protest and protesters. The participating groups include the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), and students from seminaries in the twin cities are expected to join them, along with a large number of supporters and activists.

Most of the parties announced that they would march to the Burmese embassy in Islamabad and protest in front of the embassy and its diplomats.

JI spokesperson Sajjad Abbasi said protesters will gather at Aabpara Chowk and march to the embassy, where they will protest the killing of Rohingya Muslims and hand a resolution to the diplomat from the embassy.

“We will go to the embassy, as announced by JI’s emir, at any cost,” Mr Abbasi stated. In response to a question about a clash if the police try to intercept them, he replied: “JI will protest peacefully and we will definitely go to the embassy.”

He added that protests are being held all over the world in front of embassies, and JI too will protest in front of the embassy of Myanmar in Islamabad.

He said all the religious parties and groups had announced plans to protest, and civil society and the Islamabad bar will also participate in the protest, adding that protesters from all of the capital’s mosques and residents of the city would join them as well.

He added: “We informed the capital administration about the protest so they make arrangements.”

ASWJ spokesperson Hafiz Onaib Farooqi, when contacted, said: “We will stage a peaceful protest over the killings of Muslims in Myanmar and show solidarity with them.”

He added that they would protest separately, from Lal Masjid to the National Press Club.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2017