Web Desk: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on Saturday that roads in Islamabad had not been blocked, rejecting reports that containers placed at various locations were being used to shut down major routes.
The ministry said the containers were positioned as a precautionary security measure and in line with directions from the Islamabad High Court. It said the arrangements were intended to protect citizens, public infrastructure, sensitive installations and lawful movement.
The ministry’s statement comes as authorities prepare for a planned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protest march toward Islamabad.
According to the ministry, the preventive measures were introduced in view of what it described as past violent incidents involving the protesting party. It said the state had a responsibility to maintain public order while protecting public property and sensitive locations.
The ministry did not provide details in its statement about individual roads or locations where the containers had been placed.
The ministry also challenged an Al Jazeera report that described the presence of containers as road blockades.
It said the report had portrayed the security arrangements selectively and did not adequately reflect the judicial and security context cited by the authorities. The ministry maintained that the distinction was important because, in its account, the containers were precautionary measures rather than a closure of Islamabad’s road network.
The disagreement comes amid heightened attention to traffic and security arrangements in the capital as authorities prepare for possible demonstrations.
The Information Ministry said the measures were designed to balance public safety with citizens’ lawful movement.
It also accused the broadcaster of creating a misleading impression through its description of the security arrangements, while reiterating that the government’s position was that roads remained open.
The ministry’s official fact-checking platform identifies itself as an initiative of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for addressing what it considers false or misleading information.
The latest statement adds to a wider dispute over how security preparations in Islamabad are being portrayed as the city braces for further political activity.
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