Red Zone Area Extended Up to Faisal Avenue by Interior Ministry

Islamabad: The Ministry of Interior on Saturday decided to extend the limits of the Red Zone, from Ata Turk Avenue up to Faisal Avenue in the wake of the PTI long march which is expected to enter the capital city on November 4. The ministry has also imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the Red Zone and rallies and gatherings inside the red zone have been banned by the ministry. The sources said that the Red Zone area would now stretch from Ataturk Avenue to Faisal Avenue, Khayaban-i-Iqbal to Margalla Road, and Serena Chowk to Zero Point.

Earlier the Red Zone comprised the areas west of the intersection of Muree Road and third avenue up to China Embassy, to the south of Khayaban-i-Iqbal from Fourth Avenue up to Ata Turk Avenue, east of Ata Turk Avenue up to Jinnah Avenue east of Embassy Road up to Khayaban-i-Suhrawardi; north of Dhokri Chowk. The red zone was earlier located in the jurisdiction of the Secretariat police station and after the extension, it would now include areas of Kohsar Model Sub-Division and Aabpara police station.

It is also relevant to mention here that the federal government has expressed its resolve to safeguard lives and public installations at every cost. In this regard, the capital police on Saturday warned the business community against reaching any deal with the PTI marchers in connection with the long march. The sources added that the senior police officers through the respective SHOs have issued a warning about strict legal action to the business community in case the owners of hotels, guest houses, and inns as well as catering and rent-a-car services provide services to the PTI during the long march. They said the police would keep checking them to implement the orders.