With eye on miscreants, police march through capital
Motorcycle pillion riding banned for five days; use of private drones, sale of toy guns also barred
A police convoy barrels through the capital on Friday. PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad Police, along with contingents of the Pakistan Rangers, conducted a flag march through the capital on Friday.
This came as the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) decided to impose a ban on pillion riding on motorbikes for five days as part of security measures for Muharram processions and congregations.
The march was conducted under the supervision of SP-Rural Dr Mustafa Tanveer and SP Industrial Area Liaquat Niazi. All SDPOs and SHOs of rural and industrial area, officials of Pakistan Rangers, Islamabad Traffic Police, police commandos, Rescue 15 and police patrolling officials, participated in the march.
The convoy of police vans, armoured personnel carriers, and fire tenders set off from the Pakistan Sports Complex. It passed through Dhokri Chowk Rawal Dam Chowk, Shehzad Town, Tramaari Chowk, Lehtrar Road, Khanna Bridge, Koral Chowk, PWD Housing Society, and Bahria Town before turning back onto the Expressway heading to Kak Pul. It passed Kahouta Road Imambargah Haidry Sihala and back to Imambargah Niazian from where it got onto the Expressway again. It circled through Sain Boota Darbar, Faizabad, Sector I-8 Markaz, Sector I-9 Markaz, Imambargah Jaferia, Sector I-10 Markaz, Imambargah Moosa Kazim, Sector I-10/1, Imambargah Baltistania, Sector I-10/1, Police Lines Road, Kashmir Highway, Jhangi Syedan, Imambargah Qadeemi, Imambargah Baitul Husain and Aabpara Chowk.
SSP-Operations Sajid Kiani said that the purpose of the flag march was to show preparations made by the police and other law enforcement agencies during Muharram to counter any challenge and maintain peace in the city.
Pillion ban
The ICTA banned pillion riding on motorbikes in the entire Islamabad from September 27 to October 1.
“Certain pillion riders are likely to resort to violence and acts of sabotage aimed at disrupting peace and tranquillity, causing damage to public life and property during Muharram,” said an order issued by the district magistrate late on Thursday.
It has been a routine for the administration to ban pillion riding around Ashura in the capital.
The authorities have yet to decide whether to suspend cellular service or not.
Similarly, the authorities have also banned the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including drone cameras, terming them a security threat.
“These UAVs can be used by miscreants to conduct terrorist acts in areas which have been secured and safeguarded against ground attacks. Any possible terrorist attack would jeopardise the security of the processions and religious gatherings such as Muharram and Safar majalis, processions besides posing a threat to residents of ICT,” the magistrate’s order said.
UAVs used by law-enforcement agencies are exempt from the ban, which will be effective for two months.
Toy guns banned
The district magistrate has also imposed a ban on the sale of toy guns in Islamabad on the recommendation of police.
The order read said that toy guns, which were being sold in some shopping malls of the capital, could pose a ‘security risk’ for important personalities and diplomats in the capital.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2017.
The Islamabad Police, along with contingents of the Pakistan Rangers, conducted a flag march through the capital on Friday.
This came as the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) decided to impose a ban on pillion riding on motorbikes for five days as part of security measures for Muharram processions and congregations.
The march was conducted under the supervision of SP-Rural Dr Mustafa Tanveer and SP Industrial Area Liaquat Niazi. All SDPOs and SHOs of rural and industrial area, officials of Pakistan Rangers, Islamabad Traffic Police, police commandos, Rescue 15 and police patrolling officials, participated in the march.
The convoy of police vans, armoured personnel carriers, and fire tenders set off from the Pakistan Sports Complex. It passed through Dhokri Chowk Rawal Dam Chowk, Shehzad Town, Tramaari Chowk, Lehtrar Road, Khanna Bridge, Koral Chowk, PWD Housing Society, and Bahria Town before turning back onto the Expressway heading to Kak Pul. It passed Kahouta Road Imambargah Haidry Sihala and back to Imambargah Niazian from where it got onto the Expressway again. It circled through Sain Boota Darbar, Faizabad, Sector I-8 Markaz, Sector I-9 Markaz, Imambargah Jaferia, Sector I-10 Markaz, Imambargah Moosa Kazim, Sector I-10/1, Imambargah Baltistania, Sector I-10/1, Police Lines Road, Kashmir Highway, Jhangi Syedan, Imambargah Qadeemi, Imambargah Baitul Husain and Aabpara Chowk.
SSP-Operations Sajid Kiani said that the purpose of the flag march was to show preparations made by the police and other law enforcement agencies during Muharram to counter any challenge and maintain peace in the city.
Pillion ban
The ICTA banned pillion riding on motorbikes in the entire Islamabad from September 27 to October 1.
“Certain pillion riders are likely to resort to violence and acts of sabotage aimed at disrupting peace and tranquillity, causing damage to public life and property during Muharram,” said an order issued by the district magistrate late on Thursday.
It has been a routine for the administration to ban pillion riding around Ashura in the capital.
The authorities have yet to decide whether to suspend cellular service or not.
Similarly, the authorities have also banned the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including drone cameras, terming them a security threat.
“These UAVs can be used by miscreants to conduct terrorist acts in areas which have been secured and safeguarded against ground attacks. Any possible terrorist attack would jeopardise the security of the processions and religious gatherings such as Muharram and Safar majalis, processions besides posing a threat to residents of ICT,” the magistrate’s order said.
UAVs used by law-enforcement agencies are exempt from the ban, which will be effective for two months.
Toy guns banned
The district magistrate has also imposed a ban on the sale of toy guns in Islamabad on the recommendation of police.
The order read said that toy guns, which were being sold in some shopping malls of the capital, could pose a ‘security risk’ for important personalities and diplomats in the capital.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2017.