ISLAMABAD:
Police personnel deployed at the Pakistan Sports Complex (PSC) begun vacating the premises on Saturday, two weeks after they had to be relocated to the complex to empty the capital’s schools and colleges in compliance with court orders.
The complex had been occupied by 3,900 personnel of the Punjab police, deputed at the sit-ins of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek. On Saturday evening, however, 2,000 officers left for cities in interior Punjab.
It is pertinent to note that four international events were likely to be postponed as the officers had occupied Liaquat Gymnasium and Jinnah Stadium where the events were to be held.
An official of PSC, on the condition of anonymity, said Minister of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada held a meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday and asked him to have the complex vacated so the scheduled events could take place.
The official revealed that the IPC minister was concerned over the presence of police personnel at the venue and had personally conveyed his concerns to the interior minister after which it was decided that the complex will be vacated before the events begin.
In response to a question regarding the departure of the remaining officers to Punjab, the official said the policemen will be shifted to the Haji Camp in Tarnol which serves as a transit point for pilgrims en route to Saudi Arabia. He assured that before the start of the events, the complex will be completely vacated.
Besides, the Punjab inspector general of police had also called the police personnel back due to increased security duties in Muharram, which is to begin in the last week of October. Earlier, IG Punjab had formally asked the capital administration to send back their officers so they could be deputed across the province.
The events that may have been jeopardised owing to police presence at the complex included the National Athletics Championship scheduled from October 16 to 18, the International Squash Championship, scheduled from October 18 to 23, the South Asian Men’s Netball Championship from Oct 22 to 25 and the South Asian Women Football Championship in the first week of November. Over 2,000 players and team officials from various countries — including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka — are participating in these events.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2014.
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