Pakistan capital put under Section 144 ahead of no-trust vote against Imran

The district administration of Islamabad -- the capital of Pakistan -- has imposed Section 144 to avoid any untoward incidents ahead of the crucial parliament session to vote on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The city's deputy commissioner issued a statement recently stating that the Red Zone (the place where govt and military buildings are located) has been sealed with big containers and barbed wires and with tightened security, reports Pakistan media.

Authorities have prohibited all kinds of gatherings in areas in and outside the Red Zone within a 1km radius and also completely banned pillion riding in the city for Sunday (4 April).

Meanwhile, a notification issued by Islamabad's district magistrate prohibited 'all kinds of gatherings of five or more persons, processions/rallies and demonstrations inside the Red Zone.

After weeks of political unrest and attempts to win back supporters Imran Khan -- whose tenure as the nation's leader hangs in balance -- will face the crucial no-trust in parliament in a few hours.

The move comes as he on Saturday urged the country`s youth to stage "peaceful protests" against a "foreign conspiracy" allegedly hatched against him and his government.

Imran Khan needs 172 votes to survive the no-confidence motion.

On Sunday, giant metal containers blocked roads and entrances to the capital's diplomatic enclave and to Parliament and other sensitive government installations in the capital. A defiant Khan called for supporters to stage demonstrations countrywide to protest the vote.

Khan has accused the opposition of being in cahoots with the US to unseat him, saying America wants him gone over his foreign policy choices that often favour China and Russia. Khan has also been a strident opponent of America's war on terror and Pakistan's partnership in that war with Washington, reported UNB citing AP.

Khan has circulated a memo that he insists provides proof that Washington conspired with Pakistan's opposition to unseat him because America wants "me, personally, gone...and everything would be forgiven."

A loss for Khan would give his opponents the opportunity to form a new government and rule until elections, which are scheduled to be held next year. The opposition could also choose to call early elections.

Pakistan's main opposition parties, whose ideologies span the spectrum from left to right to radically religious, have been rallying for Khan's ouster almost since he was elected in 2018.

Khan's win was mired in controversy amid widespread accusations that Pakistan's powerful army helped his Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (Justice) Party to an election win.

Asfandyar Mir, a senior expert with the Washington-based U.S. Institute of Peace, said the military's involvement in the 2018 polls undermined Khan's legitimacy from the outset.

"The movement against Imran Khan's government is inseparable from his controversial rise to power in the 2018 election, which was manipulated by the army to push Khan over the line," said Mir. "That really undermined the legitimacy of the electoral exercise and created the grounds for the current turmoil. "

Pakistan's military has directly ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 75-year history, overthrowing successive democratically elected governments. For the remainder of that time, it has indirectly manipulated elected governments from the sidelines.

The opposition has also accused Khan of economic mismanagement, blaming him for rising prices and high inflation. Still, Khan's government is credited with maintaining a foreign reserve account of $18 billion and bringing in a record $29 billion last year from overseas Pakistanis.