KARACHI, March 11: A foolproof security cover, with the deployment of about 5,000 policemen around the National Stadium, has been planned to ensure a peaceful environment for the one-day international match on Saturday between Pakistan and India.

DIG Operations Tariq Jamil said: "We want to provide maximum security to ensure a peaceful environment so that people could enjoy the event." He observed that since such an event was organized after a long time, people appeared so enthusiastic to watch the match. He said that the security measures might cause some trouble to the people, but one should realize their necessity and cooperate with the police.

He said that four complaint centres, in all the four corners of the stadium, would be established to enable the people to lodge their complaint against any excesses or misbehaviour on the part of the police. He advised people not to get panicked by the security measures which were being taken for their own safety.

The DIG warned that the police would not allow anyone to disrupt the match. Fruits, water bottles or other solid things, as well as transistors, would not be allowed to be taken into the stadium. However, food in soft containers would he permissible, he added.

About carrying of flags inside, he said: "We will allow only Pakistani or Indian flags." Indicating that the police had already been put on a red alert, Mr Jamil observed: "There are two aspects of the security. One is to provide a security umbrella to the Pakistani and Indian teams, and the other is a general security at the National Stadium to maintain law and order during the event.

The DIG explained that all the routes leading to the stadium would be closed to prevent people other than the spectators with valid tickets from entering the stadium premises. In addition, snap checking would be conducted at different points and patrolling on roads in the periphery of the stadium would be carried out throughout the day.

He said that police personnel would be deployed atop all of the highrise buildings overlooking the stadium and surveillance through helicopters would be carried out.

Regarding security in and around the stadium, the DIG said that the deployment would be made in two layers - outer deployment and inner deployment. There would be 17 SPs and 77 DSPs deployed at the gates of the stadium. Nearly 5,000 police and 1,000 Rangers personnel would be deployed in and around it, he added.

He said that 15 officials under the command of one DSP would be deployed at each of the exit gates and one DSP with some officials would be on duty at 14 entry gates.

The Pakistan Cricket Control Board has installed ticket verifying machines while the spectators would be frisked. Women police would be there for the checking of women spectators' belongings.

"We have divided the enclosures in five zones - Red, Green, Orange, Blue and Yellow." The security at the Red zone (the enclosure meant for the players and VIPs) would be the Rangers' responsibility whereas the rest of the zones would be under police security," the DIG said.

He revealed that surveillance cameras would be installed to monitor movement of unwanted elements inside the stadium where police in civvies would also be on duty.

Provision of security to the Indian team and other guests would be the responsibility of the police which would escort them from the airport to their hotels and then to the stadium.

Both the Pakistani and Indian teams would be provided with police commandos who would remain with them all along. Mr Jamil said that the Bomb Disposal Squad would scan the stadium in the morning and remain there during the day. "We have impressed upon the police personnel to be polite and friendly while dealing with the spectators," he said.