Pakistan authorities on Saturday called in the army in Islamabad and Lahore to prevent rallies by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan amid rising tensions.

The call for protest was given by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder who has been imprisoned at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for more than a year.

The PTI is protesting for the release of Khan, express solidarity with the judiciary and against inflation.

Troops were deployed in Islamabad to ensure security as PTI supporters moved forward with plans for a protest.

The army will remain in the city from October 5 to17 to maintain law and order for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in Pakistan from October 15 to 16. Khan refused to postpone the protest despite calls by the government.

The army deployment in Islamabad came as PTI supporters led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur moved ahead to reach the D-Chowk in the national capital.

PTI later claimed that Gandapur was “arrested” after he reached Islamabad. However, there was no official confirmation of Gandapur’s arrest.

Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on information, Muhammad Ali Saif, also did not confirm Gandapur’s formal arrest. He said that the chief minister was on bail, which was granted by the Peshawar High Court.

Court order

The Islamabad High Court on Saturday directed the government to stop any unlawful protest during the SCO summit and allocate a designated place to Khan’s party for protests.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the order after hearing a petition by Traders’ Welfare Association president against protests.