Visitors were forced to turn back after the motorway leading to Nankana Sahib was closed. A German delegation canceled its visit to Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Punjab on Saturday due to the closure, which was implemented to manage the PTI protest.
The delegation was scheduled to visit the sacred site as part of their trip and participate in a friendly hockey match between Pakistan and Germany in Shahkot. However, they had to return without attending the planned events because of the motorway’s closure.
The friendly hockey match has also been postponed.
Earlier in the day, the Punjab government requested military deployment in six districts, including Lahore, in anticipation of PTI’s planned rallies in the provincial capital. A letter from the provincial government outlined the deployment of armed forces, civil armed forces, and police “around the airbase/airport, routes, venues, accommodation, etc.” to maintain law and order and ensure security for foreign delegates during the upcoming SCO summit.
According to the Rules of Engagement (ROEs), the armed forces would be authorized to take necessary actions, including the use of firearms, as warranted by the situation. The notification stated that “the exact contours of deployment” would be determined by the military commander on the ground in consultation with the police commander.
In recent weeks, PTI has organized numerous nationwide rallies protesting the “unlawful” detention of its founder, delays by the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding reserved seats, and advocating for the “preservation” of the Constitution.
Prior to the rallies in Islamabad and Lahore earlier this month, the government imposed strict regulations. PTI did not fully comply with these guidelines, resulting in confrontations between its supporters and law enforcement.
