3,500 personnel deployed for arrival of Saudi crown prince

Express Highway, along with other arteries closed under traffic plan

ISLAMABAD: On the occasion of the arrival of Saudi Prince Muhammad Bin Salman on Sunday, some 3,500 security personnel were deployed from the Federal Police, Security Division Police, Special Branch, Rangers and Traffic Police.

Subsequently, the Islamabad Red Zone remained completely closed for normal traffic.

Meanwhile, Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Mohammad Amir Zulfiqar Khan reviewed the security arrangements from the Prime Minister House to Noor Khan Air Base, along with the team of senior police officers.

Under the security plan, the officials had been deployed since 5am but were replaced by a fresh force in the evening.

The police sources informed that, out of 3,500 security personnel, some 1,200 operational police and security division police officers and personnel respectively were deployed while 50 police officers from the special branch and 250 personnel from Islamabad Traffic Police were also positioned. The rest of the Rangers and Federal Police forces continued to patrol in the capital particularly in the Red Zone and adjoining areas as part of the out cordon duty.

Police sources stated that the federal police authorities had taken solid steps to make general security better in the city while the special traffic plan, in line with the arrival, was launched two days ago by the SSP traffic, Farooq Rashid.

As per the traffic plan, the Red Zone, Islamabad Expressway and other main arteries in the capital would be kept sealed whereas alternative routes had been provided for the convenience of ordinary citizens.

Furthermore, The Express Highway would remain closed but the service roads on either side of the highway would remain open for the general traffic.

The traffic of Express Highway will be diverted to Islamabad Kashmir Highway through Shamsabad Rawalpindi whereas heavy traffic will be turned from Rawalpindi T-cross Rawat towards Rawalpindi Saddar. The Red Zone will stay sealed till 10pm however only the staff posted on special duties will be allowed to enter the security check, after proving their identity through special passes.

Moreover, there is a local holiday and a ban on pillion riding in Islamabad in connection with the visit of the Saudi prince.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2019.