The Election Commission of Pakistan has urged the Islamabad deputy commissioner to deploy more security personnel outside its office in Islamabad, as the PTI has called for protests if the decision announced is against their party leader in the Toshakhana case.

In a letter to Islamabad DC Irfan Nawaz Memon, the ECP has urged the authorities to follow the orders as soon as possible.

Earlier, the Islamabad authorities beefed up security outside the ECP building.

A couple of hours before the ECP was set to announce its verdict in the Toshakhana reference against Imran Khan at 2pm, the officials from the top electoral body and security officials met in Islamabad.

Besides policemen, the authorities have also deployed paramilitary Rangers in the area.

Tear gas shells and riot gear have been transported next to the ECP building.

Earlier, Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, a close ally of Imran Khan, warned that an ECP ruling against Khan would deteriorate the law and order situation.

PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that Islamabad presented the look of a fort besieged by a large army. “This is just the beginning of the war. Have you already been panicking? You won’t find any place to take refuge when hudreds of thousands of people lay seige.”

There are unconfirmed reports that PTI leader Pervez Khattak has instructed party MNAs and MPAs to storm Islamabad if the ECP disqualified Imran Khan from office.