Former prime minister Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has called for teh setting up to provide temporary shelter for the participants of his Azadi March at the Allama Iqbal Park on Murree Road in Rawalpindi. According to his instructions, it should have the capacity to accommodate at least 40,000 people.

The decision was made in a meeting of the top leadership of PTI held at Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Tuesday. In the meeting, it was decided that all the party workers from across the country will start arriving in Rawalpindi on November 25. They would gather at the “tent city” being established, while Imran Khan will leave Lahore on the morning of November 26 for Rawalpindi.

Imran Khan has asked PTI’s Rawalpindi Division for a report on the arrangements and directed to make separate arrangements for the convoys of all divisions.

Arrangements are underway to establish the tent city, while equipment for the establishment of the stage has also been transported to the park. However, the venue of the PTI’s sit-in is still not finalised.

The former prime minister has given a call to masses and workers to reach Rawalpindi on November 26 and preparations for PTI’s “Haqeeqi Azadi March” are underway in full swing.

It is still not clear whether the PTI’s gathering will just be a meeting or they will be staging a sit-in in Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, sources privy to the development said that a sports complex has been booked for the stay of PTI leaders.

Earlier on Sunday, the federal police said that entry from Rawalpindi to Islamabad may be blocked on November 26 ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march.

The Islamabad police said in a statement on Twitter that police, FC and Rangers would be deployed to ensure the security of the Red Zone.

Interior ministry alert on threat to Imran

The Ministry of Interior has once again requested the PTI leadership to postpone its public gatherings in view of threats to the life of PTI chief Imran Khan and the prevailing security situation in the country.

A letter, addressed to PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, states that the interior ministry has been sharing threat alerts to the life of Imran Khan by anti-state elements to destabilise the country. These alerts are generated by credible intelligence sources, it added. The letter also mentioned the recent attack on Imran Khan by an armed assailant at Wazirabad.

“The federal government has already provided a bulletproof vehicle and deployed police and civil armed forces during his stay in the Islamabad Capital Territory. However, presently, Imran Khan is stationed in Lahore and participants of the long march have travelled to Rawat, which is very close to Rawalpindi,” the letter stated.

The Interior Ministry has formally conveyed the concerned quarters the threat to the life of Imran Khan and the general public.

“It is expected that the Punjab Government would be taking all measures for security arrangements not only for the PTI Chief but also for participants of the march as anti-state elements like Al-Qaeda, Daesh, TTP and radicalized youth of TLP can take advantage of soft targets like public gatherings to destabilize the country through suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices.”