ISLAMABAD: People of the twin cities are bearing the brunt of the anti-government protest as the federation has placed Islamabad under a lockdown, partially blocking cellular services, forcing educational institutes and business to temporarily shut down as the Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), led Azadi March descends adamant to topple Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.
Taking preventive measures, the government has blocked key routes to sensitive government installations placing shipping containers across the city, increasing security, disrupting the lives of residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The march echoes the 2014 four-month long “Tsunami March” by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf against the then Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government accusing Nawaz Sharif’s political party of syphoning public funds and mass corruption.
Arab News took to the streets of the peaceful serene capital turned into a container city — a name coined by Pakistanis to observe the difficulties faced by the common man and commuters. More in this video report.
Islamabad shell shocked as Azadi March descends on the capital
Islamabad shell shocked as Azadi March descends on the capital
- Government blocks key routes to sensitive installations placing shipping containers across the city
- Firebrand religious-politico leader rallies thousands to Islamabad adamant to topple the government
Pakistan Navy tests surface-to-air missile in Arabian Sea, reaffirms defense resolve
- The test follows a brief conflict with India that involved missile, artillery and drone exchanges but no naval clashes
- Pakistan has stepped up battle readiness more recently, with senior commanders overseeing major training exercises
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy reaffirmed its resolve to defend the country’s territorial waters on Monday after conducting a live firing test of a surface-to-air missile in the northern Arabian Sea, according to a military statement.
The missile test involved the FM-90(N) ER, a medium-range naval air-defense system designed to intercept aerial threats, and comes months after a brief but intense military conflict between Pakistan and India in which the nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged missile and artillery fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
While the four-day confrontation did not escalate into a naval clash, the Pakistan Navy remained on high alert until a US-brokered ceasefire brought the fighting to an end.
“Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a Live Weapon Firing (LWF) of the FM-90(N) ER Surface-to-Air Missile in the North Arabian Sea,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“During the firepower demonstration, a Pakistan Navy ship effectively engaged highly manoeuvrable aerial targets, reaffirming the Navy’s war-fighting capability and combat readiness,” it added. “Commander Pakistan Fleet witnessed the live firing at sea onboard a Pakistan Navy Fleet unit.”
ISPR said the fleet commander commended officers and sailors involved in the exercise for their professionalism and operational competence, and reiterated the navy’s resolve to safeguard Pakistan’s maritime interests under all circumstances.
Pakistan has placed greater emphasis on battle readiness in recent months.
Last week, Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited frontline garrisons of Gujranwala and Sialkot to observe a field training exercise involving tanks and drones, where he highlighted the importance of technological adaptability, saying modern warfare required agility, precision, situational awareness and rapid decision-making.
