KARACHI, March 2: Thousands of policemen were mobilized and deployed at sensitive points in the metropolis to ensure peace and security during the million march, along a section of the M. A. Jinnah Road, organized by the Mattahida Majlis-i-Amal on Sunday to express solidarity with the Iraqi people amid US threat of an onslaught against their country.

Upto 7,000 police personnel remained on a red alert from dawn to dusk to provide a security cover to the participants of the rally and meet any untoward incident.

The city’s operational police chief, Tariq Jamil, told Dawn that leaves of policemen were cancelled and 100 platoons were called out from Saeedabad training centre as the strength of the regular force was regarded as insufficient to cater to the security needs on this particular occasion.

The city police chief pointed out that people had approached the authorities to seek security and permission to assemble at Dawood Chowrangi, Quaidabad Chowk, Baitul Mukarram Mosque (Gulshan-i-Iqbal), Banaras Chowk, and many other points before setting off to the venue of the rally. “We provided security at all these points also,” he added.

He said he supervised the security arrangements which included installation of surveillance cameras at the rally site and along the route of the main procession in view of the prevailing volatile situation in the metropolis. Police were also deployed atop selected buildings along the route, he added. Fully-equipped force of riot police was also deployed.

In order to ensure smooth flow of traffic, commuters were diverted to Nishter Road from Lasbella roundabout and to Jail Road from Teen Hatti roundabout. The roads leading to Governor House from Fountain Chowk and Shaheen Complex on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road were also closed for traffic.