The long march led by Dr Tahirul Qadri, which began a day earlier from Lahore, had passed through Dina on Monday and will reach Islamabad via Sohawa, Gojjar Khan, Mandra and Rawat.
Mobiles phone services were being suspended in Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the wake of security fears.
Earlier today, the march had a stop over at Lalamusa in the Kharian tehsil. The break was taken for a short-rest and breakfast and to offer morning prayers following which the march resumed proceeding towards Islamabad. The TMQ chief addressed participants and media persons before the resumption of the march.
Reports were received of the first batch of the march participants arriving at Islamabad.
Earlier on Sunday, the long march departed from Lahore’s Model Town at 1.50pm, around five hours after the announced schedule. Dr Qadri and thousands of his followers made victory signs and expressed determination to reach the D-Square in front of the Parliament House in Islamabad to achieve their objectives ‘despite all hurdles’. Police and Rangers personnel and TMQ’s own security volunteers escorted the march.
The marchers left Lahore via the Grand Trunk (GT) Road after passing through various thoroughfares, including the Canal Road, Garhi Shahu, Railway Station, Circular Road, Ravi Road and Shahdra.
A crane was accompanying the convoy to remove containers or any other obstacle on the way. Before departure, the organizers had stocked thousands of liters of fuel and a large quantity of foodstuff.
Dr Qadri had said that despite all hurdles the participants had left their cities even on foot to join the march.
