Police flex muscles to thwart PTI protest

Sources say over 6,000 cops will maintain law and order on Nov 24

RAWALPINDI:

More than 6,000 policemen will perform law and order duties to counter the PTI's planned protest at D-Chowk in the federal capital on November 24. The party founder, Imran Khan, has given a nationwide call to his supporters to assemble in the capital on Sunday.

According to the Rawalpindi police's strategy, the police force has been instructed not to carry firearms or mobile phones. The personnel will be equipped with tear gas guns, rubber bullet firearms (12-bore guns), and riot control gear.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani and SSP Operations Rawalpindi Hafiz Kamran Asghar will supervise the law and order duties.

Under the 60-page security plan, over 6,000 police officers and personnel including 5 SPs, 21 ASPs/DSPs, 84 Inspectors/SHOs, 495 upper subordinates, 194 head constables, 2,104 constables, 145 female officers and constables, and 180 upper subordinates and officers of the Elite Force will perform their duties.

Seventeen district police reserve forces and 50 Punjab Constabulary reserve units, along with 140 Dolphin Force personnel, will also be deployed.

All personnel have been instructed to report to duty points by 8am on November 24 and the SHOs have been directed to carry megaphones and handcuffs. Firearms and mobile phones will be prohibited.

Additionally, more than 70 locations across the city, including entry and exit points, Murree Road, and routes connecting Rawalpindi to Islamabad, will be sealed with containers and blockades.

More than 65 police checkpoints have been established with personnel deployed across these locations. Police forces, equipped with tear gas guns, 500 tear gas shells, rubber bullet rifles (12-bore), 100 rubber bullets, and tear gas grenades, will be stationed at 135 blocking points, police checkpoints, and Metrobus stations from Saddar to Faizabad.

Special teams will also be deployed along Murree Road at key points like Shalimar Chowk to Faizabad, with rooftop duty. The Metrobus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad will be suspended indefinitely from Saturday night.

Furthermore, Section 144 has already been imposed in the Rawalpindi division, banning public gatherings and rallies. Rangers have been called in to assist the police.

In a high-level meeting, CPO Khalid Hamdani emphasised that Section 144 would be strictly enforced and that specially trained squads have been deployed to maintain peace and tranquillity.

He vowed to uphold the law and deal firmly with any disruptions, using CCTV cameras to monitor and identify lawbreakers and miscreants throughout the city.