JUI-F Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and DC Hamza Shafqaat talk to the media; the area the government has allocated for the Azadi march. PHOTOS: PPI/EXPRESS
JUI-F Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has seen and approved the place.
More than 300 employees of Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) are currently working for completing arrangements on the huge field adjoining Metro Depot on Kashmir Highway.
According to an agreement reached between Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Islamabad administration, the protesters have been allowed to stage demonstration on the ground adjoining Metro Bus Depot after which the administration has started making arrangements for security of the march.
The marchers coming from Lahore via Motorway would be given a clear road until Peshawar Mor on Kashmir Highway to reach the demonstration venue. Similarly, the convoys heading to Islamabad from K-P through GT Road would be diverted to Kashmir Highway from Motorway Chowk to the jalsa ground.
The marchers using G-T Road route from Punjab would be directed towards Kashmir Highway from Rawat T-Chowk while the protesters from Murree would be diverted to the same location from Faizabad and IJP Road.
Safe ground
JUI-F Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri expressed satisfaction on the arrangements being made for demonstrators expected to reach Islamabad on Tuesday and said that, with security condition under consideration, it was a good spot for staging protest.
Haideri visited the location adjoining Metro Depot with Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat.
The DC explained to JUI-F secretary general that the administration was leveling the uneven terrain along with clearing the bushes, while the administration would also establish mobile washrooms. However, the administration and JUI-F have not yet reached any decision of setting up two separate stages in the ground.
Citing the expected figure of hundreds of thousands of people participating in the march, Haideri said they would move to Kashmir Highway if the ground fills up.
He added that there would be a religious atmosphere in their political gathering and people would be offering prayers. Therefore, he urged the administration to make profound water arrangements for ablution and other purposes.
He assured that the protesters would not do anything that might cause trouble and difficulties to the locals and said that the administration was co-operating with them until now hoping that it would continue ahead too. He recalled that his party had done million marches in the past too but never blocked roads or stopped schools from opening.
Further, DC Shafqaat said that following court order, they would not allow closure of Kashmir Highway and even if it was done due to security reasons, the administration will provide alternative routes for commuters.
DC hoped that the related area would be enough to accommodate one to 1.5 million people JUI-F said were participating in the Azadi march.
He said that according to the agreement between Rahbar committee and federal government, all the roads and schools would remain open and functional.
High alert in Red Zone
Two important roads leading to Red Zone including Nadra Chowk and Express Chowk have been completely sealed by the federal police using containers.
According to the sources, the federal police have beefed-up overall security of Islamabad while the entry points of Red Zone have been packed with containers. Some 200 additional personnel of federal police have been deployed for security of diplomatic enclave.
After arrival of Azadi protesters, only authorised people would be allowed to enter Red Zone via single line entry.
Further, regarding the preparations on allocated area, IMC Director Muhammad Irshad told The Express Tribune that more than 300 municipal workers were performing duties on the allocated area. He added that the rally ground was being widened and leveled and bushes being removed with the help of earth moving machinery.
Bulldozers, excavators and ground levelers have been deployed to clean up the jalsa venue, he said.
Irshad said they have two-days to finish the work before the protestors come marching.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials said they would establish mobile washrooms and make water arrangements for ablution and other purposes for the participants of Azadi march.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2019.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ