ISLAMABAD — The government of Pakistan is implementing a lockdown in the capital city, Islamabad, in anticipation of a rally organized by supporters of the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This marks the second occasion in the past two months that officials have enacted such measures to prevent large gatherings advocating for Khan’s release.

The timing of this latest lockdown is particularly significant as it coincides with a scheduled visit from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is set to arrive in Islamabad on Monday.

According to local news sources, the Interior Ministry is contemplating the suspension of mobile phone services in various regions across Pakistan in the upcoming days.

On Friday, the National Highways and Motorway Police announced that they would be closing several major routes for maintenance work. They have advised the public to refrain from non-essential travel, citing intelligence reports indicating that “angry protesters” may escalate tensions and damage properties on the day of the rally.

The official statement expressed concerns about protesters potentially arriving armed with sticks and slingshots.

In response to the situation, multicolored shipping containers known to residents of Islamabad were strategically placed along critical roads on Saturday, causing significant traffic restrictions.

For the last two months, Pakistan has prohibited public gatherings of five or more individuals in Islamabad as a means of deterring supporters of Khan and members of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Khan has been incarcerated for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal charges, which his supporters argue are driven by political motives.

A three-day lockdown was previously enforced in Islamabad for a security summit held last month.