Red Zone sealed, heavy security deployed outside parliament ahead of PTI protest

ISLAMABAD: Security was tightened in the federal capital on Thursday as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians staged a protest, prompting authorities to seal key routes leading to Parliament House and the Red Zone.

A heavy police contingent was deployed at the main gate of Parliament House, which was closed amid fears of unrest.

Armoured personnel carriers were stationed outside the building, while Islamabad’s Red Zone — home to key government installations — was completely sealed off.

Police gathered in large numbers at Radio Pakistan Chowk, blocking Shahrah-e-Dastoor from that point onward.

Law enforcement officials did not allow civilians or even members of the National Assembly to proceed towards Parliament House.

PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi and Umair Niazi were reportedly stopped at Radio Pakistan Chowk.

Speaking to the media, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the protest would remain peaceful.

He demanded that PTI founder Imran Khan be allowed to meet his personal physician and family members.

“I was earlier informed that the PTI founder’s health was improving. There are competent doctors available in the country and we want him to receive proper treatment,” Achakzai said, urging authorities to resolve the matter without further complications.

Govt response on Imran Khan’s treatment

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would be taken “wherever he prefers” for medical treatment if required, adding that the government had no objection to facilitating his healthcare needs in accordance with the law.

Chaudhry said that PTI founder Imran Khan would be taken wherever he wished for a medical check-up.

“Wherever he wants to go for a check-up, he will be taken. If he wants to go to Al-Shifa Eye Trust, he will be taken there. There will be no negligence in this matter,” Chaudhry stated.

He further said that if the Chief Justice of Pakistan recommends any doctor, the incarcerated former prime minister would be taken there accordingly.

The minister urged the opposition not to politicise the issue. “This is a sensitive matter. Politicising it and misrepresenting facts is completely unfair,” he said.

Chaudhry added that Imran Khan would now be examined by eye specialists and super-specialists, and the government would ensure that he receives every possible treatment available.

Rejecting claims of deteriorating vision, the minister said the issue had not surfaced during previous meetings and medical examinations. “The matter did not arise when Imran’s sister met him on December 2, nor on December 9 when he was examined by a medical board, or on December 20 when the Toshakhana verdict was announced,” he said.

“The complaint was not raised anywhere earlier,” he added.

Recalling the medical history, Chaudhry said that on January 16, a doctor had recommended shifting Imran Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for an eye check-up. However, he claimed that the former prime minister was not shifted at the request of PTI — not due to the jail authorities or the government.

He further said that following a medical procedure on January 24, doctors had issued a medical report. “Then there is a separate ‘report’ by the lawyer,” he remarked, referring to PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar’s submission to the Supreme Court.

Separately, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah told Geo News that any lapse in Imran Khan’s medical treatment would amount to “criminal negligence.”

He stressed that the former prime minister’s health must not be politicised and that he should be provided full medical facilities as per jail rules and court directives.

The statements come amid mounting political tension, with PTI repeatedly raising concerns about Khan’s health condition during his incarceration.

The party has been demanding access for his personal doctor and family, while the government maintains that he is receiving proper medical care under established procedures.

The situation in Islamabad remained tense, with security forces on high alert and major arteries around the Red Zone sealed to prevent any escalation.

Earlier, the Supreme Court was informed that Imran Khan has only 15 per cent vision remaining in his right eye, drawing a strong reaction from his party.