The crackdown on PTI workers continued in Islamabad, with reports of severe shelling and arrests, including the detention of PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, and activist Azam Khan. More than 1,600 activists have been arrested across Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Earlier on Friday, the federal government called in the army troops in Islamabad, ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and several high-profile visits later this month in the wake of the protest calls given by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The decision to call in the army came on the heels of a complete lockdown of the twin cities because of the PTI's planned protest at D-Chowk - right in front of parliament in the Red Zone - with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur vowing to reach there at any cost.
The army has been deployed in addition to the paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel. A notification issued by the interior ministry stated that the army would remain in the capital from October 5 to 17 for maintaining law and order situation.