More than 1,000 Karachi cops have been put on standby in wake of long march call by former premier Imran Khan, 24NewsHD TV channel reported Wednesday. 

The police have been asked to get ready at Razaqabad Training Centre. The contingent will be sent to Islamabad by train anytime. The officials were worried as they were neither allowed to take clothes nor inform their families. They were ordered to gather on the ground, according to the police

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman yesterday announced he would kick-start a long march from Lahore to Islamabad on Friday.

He added there is no timeframe for the conclusion of the long march.“It is beyond politics as we are fighting for real independence. We will enter Red Zone in Islamabad and we will follow the law.

Imran Khan rode to power in 2018 on a populist platform promising social reforms, and a fight against corruption. But, under his tenure, the economy stagnated. He was ousted from the prime minister’s office following a no-trust vote earlier in the ongoing year. Since the regime change, he has been on campaign for snap polls.

The federal government sought additional police from the provinces and the deployment of FC and Rangers to fend off the marchers.