Pakistan braces for protests as govt warns of $400 million daily loss

Protests in Pakistan (Representative image) Pakistan’s government has put heavy restrictions on protestors warning them that those seeking to march towards Islamabad with the government warning that disruptions could cost the economy around $400 million a day as separate marches by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) put pressure on the capital.Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that the administration, police and interior ministry were clear that groups intending to cause disruption would not be allowed to reach the capital. He cited a recent Islamabad high court ruling that bars political parties from obstructing public roads and the movement of citizens.The warning comes ahead of a PTI nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on September 27 seeking the release of party founder Imran Khan, who is incarcerated. JI, meanwhile, has launched a protest campaign against the petroleum levy and has begun a march towards the federal capital.Government warns of economic falloutPakistan’s finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb separately warned that strikes, sit-ins, long marches and road closures could cause an estimated PKR ...