Additional force called to Pindi amid tense security situation

Local administration mobilises containers to place them at entry points

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Central Police Office has placed additional police force from four districts at the disposal of Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi to assist the local police in maintaining the law and order ahead of a possible march of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Though containers placed on different roads had been removed after the interior minister announced a successful dialogue with the banned TTP, the police force and personnel of other law-enforcement agencies had remained on alert at different locations.

In this regard, Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Rao Sardar Ali has approved the plan to place the services of the Superintendents of Police (SPs) belonging to six units including District Police Officers (DPOs) of four districts and additional police forces at the disposal of the RPO Rawalpindi.

A circular detailing the deployment had also been issued in this regard.

According to the document, DPO Toba Tek Singh Mujeebur Rehman along with two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), four Station House Officers (SHOs) and 10 reserve forces will, DPO Khushab Mohammad Naveed with two DSPs, 10 reserve forces including four SHOs, Assistant Inspector-General Complaints SP Dr Fahad, two SPs, Punjab CTD SP and Bahawalpur DPO Faisal Kamran have been directed to reach Rawalpindi until October 26 and report to the Rawalpindi RPO.

On the other hand, police personnel have also been deployed at all metro bus stations in Rawalpindi along with main thoroughfares including Murree Road.

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Meanwhile, over 100 TLP activists are still detained in Adiala jail.

The district administration and police have finalised plans to place containers on 131 different spots of Rawalpindi leading to Faizabad Interchange due to possible sit-in of the banned TLP.

The containers have been transported to all important spots which has triggered a wave of anxiety among the citizens again. The containers are initially to be placed at Jhanda Chichi Chowk near Punjab House which is the entry point of the Murree Road.

The entry points of Murir Chowk including Kashmir Road, Murree Road, and Kutcheri Road will also be blocked by using containers. Rialto Chowk Road, Liaquat Bagh Chowk, Gawalmandi Chowk, Bara Bazar Chowk, Committee Chowk, Teli Mohalla Chowk, Qasr Sherin Chowk, Waris Khan Chowk, Waris Khan Road Police Station, Naz Cinema Chowk, Asghar Mall Chowk, etc will also be blocked with layers of containers.

The administration will erect at least 40 containers around Faizabad Chowk while all roads in the city leading to Murree Road will also be sealed if the TLP marches on Rawalpindi.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2021.