Nawaz’s rally: Heightened security measures become bane for local residents

The movement of local residents is restricted even in their neighbourhood

LAHORE: Unmindful of the difficulties faced by the local resident, the government has deployed at least 10,000 police officials including 2,000 traffic wardens as part of the heightened security plan for the rally of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. As part of special arrangements, a special mobile van of Punjab Safe Cities Authority has bee engaged to monitor over 100 CCTV cameras installed on bullet-proof stage of Nawaz Sharif and command other security arrangements.

Several helipads have been established to facilitate former PM’s exit after his speech and a cavalcade to escort him from Imamia Colony Railway Crossing to Data Darbar.

Aerial surveillance of the route is also part of the heightened security plan.

However, these extraordinary security arrangements are causing nuisance and extreme difficulties for the people living around the route as their movement has been restricted due to closure of streets and roads leading towards the route of the rally. On Friday night, district administration had come on the route to clean the streets.

Traffic police has established partial diversions at tail and head of the rally route in order to restrict the movement of vehicles towards the route.

The rally route is divided in 12 sectors. Every sector is to be manned by a superintendent of police.

A podium covered by bullet-proof glass from all sides has been set up at the main stage. Police also claimed to have arrested three suspects near Data Darbar. Traffic wardens have been deployed on the route and diversions points.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2017.