A Pakistani pedestrian crosses a street,...A Pakistani pedestrian crosses a street, blocked by freight containers, leading to the Presidential Palace and diplomatic enclave in Islamabad on September 20, 2012. The Pakistan government has declared Friday a national holiday in honour of the Muslim prophet Mohammed and called for peaceful protests against a US-made film deemed insulting to Islam. The film, made by extremist Christians in the United States, has triggered more than a week of furious protests and attacks across the Muslim world, which have killed least 30 people. AFP PHOTO / AAMIR QURESHIAAMIR QURESHI/AFP/GettyImages
After the removal of the “Khatam-e-Nabuwat” clause in the Elections Bill and delayed response on fixing the issue, the public has decided to stage a protest across the country.
The protesting parties are expected to arrive in Islamabad today and the authorities are already moving in to increase security in the capital. Religious groups are expected to rally towards the capital. The rallies began in Lahore this Tuesday and are being led by the Sunni Tehreek along with some other religious groups. They are agitated and will protest against the removal of the Khatam-e-Nabuwat clause from the Elections Bill.
Security levels are rising as this protest is expected to pose a great threat to the safety of top institutions situated in Islamabad. Security forces and containers have already been brought around the edges of the Red Zone to guard and contain these sites. The Red Zone consists of all the important institutes and government buildings.
From the Frontier Constabulary, Islamabad authorities have apportioned around 4,000 officers. Punjab and Jammu-Kashmir Police will also assist these constables, reinforcing Islamabad Police.
Entrances to the Red Zone will be sealed completely today. Islamabad is preparing for an onslaught – the Inspector General of Islamabad canceled the leaves of their staff and the staff has been ordered to report for duty immediately.
It is estimated that a crowd of 5,000 to 6,000 people will tread into the capital and hundreds will join in with them from the two neighbouring cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
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