The Islamabad High Court had ruled the protest 'unlawful', directing the government to maintain law and order without disrupting public life, especially with the Belarusian president's scheduled visit over the weekend with a high-profile delegation.

Authorities in Islamabad have sealed off routes to the Red Zone – which houses the country's executive, judicial, and legislative authorities – and deployed Rangers at key government buildings.

Pakistan’s capital was put under a security lockdown on November 24, ahead of protests by supporters of jailed former PM Imran Khan calling for his release. Highways leading to Islamabad through which supporters of Khan,