Exhorting the masses to become part of the long march, PTI chief Imran Khan asked people to “seize the moment” and turn up in large numbers in the party’s long march towards Islamabad.

“Today, I am telling people that they will not get this moment again. If you let this moment pass by, your next generation will have to fight this war. We will get rid of these puppets forever,” he said in a video message late on Tuesday night.

The statement came as the government started to block the entry and exit points in major cities and continued to arrest PTI leaders as the party presses the government for early elections.

The federal government as well as the governments of Sindh and Punjab have already imposed a ban on gatherings under Section 144 (which authorises the executive magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Imran described the people as “fortunate” for having an opportunity to bring the country “real freedom”. He urged the people to not “waste the moment” and consider it a “jihad”. Imran described the incumbent government as “America’s slaves”.

Scenes from Islamabad show that containers have been placed on entry and exit points of the city, creating problems for the thousands of daily commuters who take the routes for performing their routine work. The Faizabad interchange, which connects the twin cities, has also been blocked by the government.

Heavy police contingents can also be seen making their way across the capital city.

He reiterated that the country cannot accept slavery. “They will put containers and block roads but you have to come out,” he said and announced his decision to reach D-Chowk, Islamabad via Kashmir Road on Wednesday.

“By any means, you have to reach Islamabad, from every city. We have only purpose and our movement will continue till they call for early elections. There are not many jails to put you people behind bars.”