Summary Additional police contingents were called in to avert any untoward incident.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk / AP) – Thousands of protesters demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation prepared Tuesday to march towards Islamabad’s ’Red Zone’, as authorities beefed up security to prevent possible violence.
Authorities have resealed the federal capital by placing shipping containers on different roads and additional police contingents were called in to avert any untoward incident.
Rangers personnel have been deployed around the Parliament House and additional contingents of security personnel or on standby.
The demonstrators, who have camped out in Islamabad in two rallies since last week, are demanding that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif step down over alleged vote rigging in the 2013 parliamentary elections.
The rallies — with tens of thousands taking part — are led by cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan and fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, who have vowed to keep up the sit-ins until Sharif resigns.
Imran Khan, who heads parliament s third-largest political bloc, announced Monday that he and his supporters would march into Islamabad s so-called "Red Zone," which houses embassies, parliament, diplomatic posts, government offices and the residence of the prime minister and the president.
Amid growing tension Tuesday, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif met with the prime minister in Islamabad, state-run Pakistan Television said.
