Braced for an emergency: Nisar orders compliance with court order

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday asked the Rawalpindi-Islamabad administration to be ready for any emergency in the wake of the Supreme Court’s order regarding the clearing of protest camps on Constitution Avenue.

“The minister chaired an emergency meeting of Islamabad and Rawalpindi administration… to discuss the possible outcome of Supreme Court orders regarding the vacation of Constitution Avenue [by] participants of Azadi and Inqalab marches,” said a statement issued by the interior ministry.

According to the statement, Nisar directed the administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision and be prepared to meet any emergency situation. Nisar emphasised that the SC’s decision should be implemented in true letter and spirit, it said.

The statement said the minister discussed the possible exit of the participants of the processions from Red Zone and allotment of other safe avenue to them as per the directions of Supreme Court.

“He also discussed the possible new avenues for the participants of both the Marches and the security arrangements for the participants and the inhabitants of that area,” the official statement added.

It must be noted that the Supreme Court has asked the protesting parties and attorney general to hold a meeting to come up with a solution that ensures free movement of officials at the constitutional avenue.

However, the press statement issued by the interior ministry has termed it the apex court’s order for ‘vacation of Constitutional Avenue’.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2014.