Activists of the PML-N, the party in power, chant slogans against the Inquilab (Revolution) March and Azadi (Freedom) March during a protest demonstration in Karachi. Image by ppiimages. Copyright Demotix (12/8/2014) The Pakistani government led by Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif and his party PML-N are taking extraordinary measures to prevent two opposition parties, led by populist politicians Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, from launching massive anti-government marches to the capital on Pakistan's independence day August 14. The government claims to be acting upon intelligence reports that the protests could turn bloody. Despite the Lahore High Court's short order that the marches should not proceed because of “independence day and the chaotic and uncertain situation prevailing in the country”, both parties — Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) — are determined to march to the capital. Popular cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan leads PTI, and PAT is led by a Sufi scholar-turned-politician and recently returned expat from Canada Tahirul Qadri. Both allege that the May 2013 general election, which brought Sharif's party to power in a landslide victory, was rigged. They are marching to the capital to demand that the prime minister step down. Since the evening of August 13, parts of capital city Islamabad and Pakistan's second largest city Lahore have been blocked off with shipping containers to restrict movement. Some areas are expected to be without cellular services for the duration of the marches. If the PMLN doesn't remove containers in Lahore, then it will be a serious contempt of court #IKonARY — PTI (@PTIofficial) August 13, 2014 In the days leading up to August 14, the government acquired hundreds of shipping containers to be used as hurdles along the streets and highways between Islamabad and Lahore, where many protesters are launching their march from. The journey between both cities is nearly 400 kilmeters (250 miles). Popular Islamabad-based TV news host Moeed Pirzada tweeted: #Islamabad again being sealed? Nawaz Govt has been changing it's position so frequently that it is impossible now to trust whatever they say — Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) August 13, 2014 The government has rejected allegations that the election was rigged and says their security measures are a response to reports that there will be blood if the protests advance. Intelligence reports suggest that “some hired-guns have infiltrated into the PAT ranks and they would initiate a clash with law-enforcement personnel (who will then) resort to firing on the workers.” According to the latest reports, police will allow PTI workers to continue their march while PAT workers will be stopped. The BBC's Ilyas Khan has taken these reports a step further in his analysis “The threat of Pakistan's angry young marchers“: Neither of them began life as career politicians, but they now command vocal support and their angry rhetoric has the power to marshal equally angry crowds. Analysts say these young people are Mr Qadri's captive audience, and can be as militant or as docile as the words he employs to motivate them. The parties have been planning their marches for weeks. PTI and PAT are social media savvy and are led by charismatic leaders who have proven to have street appeal attracting thousands in previous marches. Nawaz Sharif acting like Hosni Mubarak in cracking down on r democratic right to protest. But we r resolved to undertake r Azadi March. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 9, 2014 The marches on social media Both parties are marching under different banners and agendas. PTI's march has been branded azadi or freedom, and PAT's march is being called inquilab or revolution. PAT has been promoting their march through their Facebook page which has close to 150,000 followers and Tahirul Qadri's Twitter account which has 114,000 followers. Meme shared on PAT's official Facebook Page. PTI has been promoting their azadi march through their party's official Facebook page's close to 1.5 million fans, their party's official Twitter account‘s 424K followers and Imran Khan's official Twitter account's 1.9 million followers. PTI has launched a “Real People, Real Sentiments” campaign featuring protesters and children. Stop rigging Pakistan's future! #AzadiMarchPTI pic.twitter.com/KWf2mW9srf — PTI (@PTIofficial) August 13, 2014 From PTI's official Facebook page. Containers blocking roads According to Newstribe, the police has blocked off most entry points into Islamabad with 400 shipping containers. Shahzad Ahmed, the Pakistan director for Bytes for All, posted this on his Facebook: Probably I was the last person to exit ‪#‎Islamabad‬ from Kashmir Highway.