Capital armed to teeth for PTI’s lockdown
ICT prepares contingency plan, may arrest political workers ahead of PTI protest
In a bid to deter Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf’s planned lockdown of the federal capital on November 2, the special branch of the Capital Police has finalised a list of 1473 political workers – of the PTI, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Awami Muslim League (AML) of Sheikh Rashid – who could be arrested before the party besieges Islamabad.
As part of its contingency plan, the administration in Islamabad has sought from the government deployment of 25,000 extra police officials and some five buildings have been vacated to accommodate them, said an official of the capital territory. On the other hand, the PTI has informed its supporters and workers about alternate venue for the sit-in if the government stops them from entering Islamabad. Local leaders of the PTI and its allies have been informed that all six roads – IJP Road, GT Road, T-Chowk, Kashmir Highway and Muree Road – will be closed on November 2. The IJP road will be closed at CDA Stop, GT Road at Rewat, T-Chowk, Kashmir Highway at Goldra Mor and Muree Road at Bhara Kahu.
According to a well placed source in the PTI, around 0.2 million people are expected to attend the PTI’s demonstration while per estimates, all security arrangements will cost around Rs 750 million over a week. Sources in the Interior Ministry claimed that the government was not mulling over a possibility of closing schools, colleges and government offices due to the anti-government march to portray the picture that Islamabad could not be closed anymore by anyone.
Leaves of officials of the Islamabad Police have already been cancelled while those already on leave would join the department before October 27. All the government offices and ministries will remain open and their staff members have been directed to make sure their presence at offices, otherwise strict action would be taken against them.
Sources said the government was also thinking about placing local leaders of the PTI, PAT and Awami Muslim League under house arrest, as both the PTI and ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz try their best to give a tough time to each other.
Meanwhile, PTI’s Dharna Committee has arranged 350 houses near Double Road, Rawalpindi, and Service Road, Islamabad, to accommodate party workers.
Following the directions of the Interior Ministry, the Islamabad Traffic Police have been ordered to provide alternative ways and roads to citizens.
Sources said that on the directions of SSP Operations Sajid Kiyani, a bulk of rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, sticks, catapults, jackets and guns had been stock piled at the Police Lines.
As part of their plan, the ICT Police have decided to place police personnel in three cordons: those under 30 will be placed in the first line, those aging 40 would be placed on the outer cordon while those aging 50 or above would be placed on the second outer cordon. It may be mentioned here that the PTI has formed a 1,500-man force of youngsters to resist police officials at the entry points to Islamabad.