8,000 extra police force summoned for capital’s security

Forces summoned for March 27 rallies by PTI and Opposition parties

ISLAMABAD:

The interior ministry has called an additional 8,000 police force from provinces as the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and joint opposition have called separate rallies in Islamabad on March 27.

The additional police personnel have been called from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, sources said.

The interior ministry has already deployed 2,000 Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary in the federal capital to deal with any untoward situation during the public rallies.

The Islamabad district administration has already allowed opposition parties and the PTI to hold separate public rallies in the federal capital but the opposition has reportedly insisted on holding a sit-in instead.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid chaired a meeting to review the arrangements ahead of the two major public gatherings. The meeting was also attended by interior and home secretaries, the Islamabad chief commissioner and the Islamabad police chief and others.

According to interior ministry sources, the meeting was apprised that there was a risk of possible clashes between PTI and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl workers.

The PTI will hold the public rally at the Parade Ground while the opposition parties have been allocated Sector H-9 along the Srinagar Highway to hold the rally.

JUI workers will enter Srinagar Highway from Hakla Interchange to avoid clashes with PTI workers.

The metro bus depot which has begun to be evacuated will be used as a parking area. Security will also be beefed up in the Red Zone area of Islamabad and no rallies will be allowed there.Earlier, the Islamabad district administration formally issued a no-objection certificate to the ruling PTI to hold a public rally at Islamabad’s Parade Ground on March 27.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2022.