An estimated 10,000 policemen stationed in the area said they were ‘sick and tired’ of waiting for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek marches to end. “If they have taken an oath to follow their leader, we have also taken an oath to defend democracy and uphold the Constitution,” said one official.
After receiving an update on the situation at the marches, a police official standing on top of a container on the perimeter of the Red Zone said that PAT marchers are a greater concern for security officials. He refers to previous clashes between the party and the authorities as Elite Force officials all check their weapons.
The path leading from the sit-in venues to the police line is fortified with multiple containers serving as barricades. The first set of containers is manned by regular policemen, the next set by Elite Force officials. After that, you enter the heavily fortified and sealed off Red Zone.
Entry here is banned and all side street entrances were blocked and manned by Elite Force officials.
However, the streams and drains running nearby were not manned. A muddy walk away, a swarm of black and khaki uniformed men stationed right across the Diplomatic Enclave prepped for the marchers’ arrival. The combined deployment on this one road was easily in the thousands. “God is great,” intoned a synchronised march anthem as security officials on Murree Road held a practice drill.
“This is not good politics,” said an Elite Force official. He expressed hope that the party leaders would recognise the potential for a bloodbath if the Red Zone is breached. “The marchers should be wise enough to refuse if their leaders told them to get into a violent confrontation.”
An Elite Force official looked at soldiers stationed a few meters away. “Even if the marchers don’t respect us, they should at least respect them (army),” he said. “The army is fighting for this country right now. How would they feel if they saw this carnival?”
On Constitution Avenue, a soldier asked if the situation is as bad as it sounds. Bound by orders, he said he hoped he would not be required to use his weapon. As Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar announced that the army would be deployed to ensure security in the area, the Red Zone is cleared of anyone not wearing a police or military uniform.
Nearby, a group of people asked if there was any way for them to get home to Bari Imam, located on the other side of the Red Zone. Dejected, they said they had been walking in circles for hours.
They headed back to the sit-ins, their frustration directed not at the security officials, who they said are ‘just doing their jobs’, but at the men speaking on stages set up just a short walk away.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th,2014.
COMMENTS (6)
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@Citizen26: Pakistan put up with no elections for half is existence. The system needs time to mature. Do you seriously believe that Imran would have been the PM?
@Arslan: You make valid points. But the way to address is in Parliament. Let people kick the corrupt and inefficient out through a legal process. Khan cannot bring the change overnight even if he was in power. This gives the appearance of anarchy and lack of rule of law. Khan has to mature as a politician , making probocative statements and creating sensationalism does not enhance Pakistani image in the world.He must know if he is in power, he is teaching and showing them the way to force him to do what he is asking Nawaj Sharief to do. A bad precedent.
Mmr
The reason why any other party wouldnt do it again, because people brought by force and on daily wage and people coming on their own have a huge difference.
Secondly, if there would be any unrest any sensible political party would resort to dialogue immediately and resolve concerns, rahter than waiting and waiting despite been the ruling party.
PTI announced its march on 27th June, PMLN pulled jokes on them. They have been sitting there for 6 days, they are still not concerned.
Hope this answer you concern.
@Mmr: Are you saying we should continue to have rigged elections forever and there is nothing wrong with that. If any person protests against rigged elections then he is a trouble maker for the country and puts "so called democracy" at stake.
They don't have rubber bullets? Civil disobedience is not a death penalty, crowd control weapons i can understand but straight up threatening to use real weapons? The government wants a bloodbath by the looks of it.
It truly is so sad. Look what Mr. Khan is demonstrating ? If he wins gets what he wants. Why would Muslim league or PPP or any other party do the same. By doing what he is doing ' khan is commiti g political suicide. It will be law of jungle. Pakistan keeps going back .so sad.