Protesters during November 2017 demonstration. Photo: AFP/File 

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry submitted details regarding expenditure on security for protests, sit-ins and rallies in the federal capital during the past five years, showing the most was spent on PTI?s sit-in of 2014.

During a Senate session headed by Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi on Friday, the interior ministry submitted its written response stating Rs755.9 million were spent on security arrangements during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf?s marathon sit-in in Islamabad in 2014.

Rs755.9 million on 2014 sit-in

The 2014 sit-in lasted for 126 days, which started on August 14 that year with a march from Lahore to Islamabad to protest the results of 2013 general elections. In the federal capital, the supporters and leadership of PTI camped in Aabpara, close to the city?s Red Zone. The protesters and PTI leadership demanded the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, resign from his position.

During the sit-in, PTI was joined by Pakistan Awami Tehreek for some time. Both the parties and their workers also marched to the capital?s red zone. However, the sit-in was called off in December 2014 following the Army Public School, Peshawar attack.

The expenditure on security arrangements for 2014 sit-in was parts of the total of Rs1.145 billion spent on the Islamabad police for major sit-ins, protests and rallies during the past five years.

Rs210 million on 2016 lockdown

The next big amount ? Rs210 million ? was spend on the security for PTI?s 2016 lockdown.

The PTI Chairperson Imran Khan had announced of causing Islamabad to close down on November 2, 2016 if the Supreme Court did not start probe against the Sharif family for their name in the Panama Papers. The days leading to November 2 saw containers blocking roads in the federal capital. However, the decision was taken back following Supreme Court?s announcement of forming a judicial commission to probe the allegations against the Sharifs.

Rs133.8 million on Faizabad sit-in

In 2017, religious groups carried out a sit-in at Faizabad Interchange, which lies in the middle of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, against the controversial amendment to the Finality of Prohphethood clause in the declaration for elected candidates taking oath.

The groups demanded resignation of the then law minister, Zahid Hamid, as they said it was him who make amendments to the declaration.

However, the sit-in was called off following negotiations with the authorities in Islamabad.

To avoid any untoward incident during the sit-in, the government spent Rs133.8 million.

Rs33.2 million on PAT sit-in

The demonstration on which Rs33.2 million were spend was led by PAT chief Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri.

On January 14, 2013, Qadri and his supporters marched from Lahore to Islamabad and camped out at Jinnah Avenue for over four days.

The protest was against corrupt politicians, demanding electoral reforms for the general elections that were coming up.

Besides the political protests, Rs12.6 million were spend on rally by parties against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims were killed in 2017 in a crackdown that started against them in Rakhine state of Myanmar.