28 September 2004	Tuesday	12 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 27: The city police chief on Monday gave an assurance to the city nazim that the visitors to the weekly book bazaar would be allowed to park their vehicles at premises of Frere Hall garden.

Taking notice of news reports and in view of the sufferings of the people, the City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, spoke to the city police chief, Tariq Jamil, on Monday over telephone and apprised him of the grievances of the people.

The bazaar is organized every Sunday at Frere Hall, and as Fatima Jinnah Road remains closed for traffic for security reasons, the book-lovers are denied entry to the Frere Hall and they are made to leave their vehicles near Metropole Hotel and deposit their ID cards with the police before visiting the bazaar.

The City Nazim in an official communication on Monday stated that the book fair had been reopened after discussions with the US consul general. He said in the beginning, permission was given in the book fair through the entrance on Fatima Jinnah Road which was guarded by the police and rangers.

He, however, said that the police were stopping the visitors on the entrance and were allowing them to go inside the Bagh-i-Jinnah leaving their vehicles in front of the Hotel Metropole.

The book-lovers, who experienced inconvenience, complained to him, and he conveyed their sentiments to the CCPO. Addressing the CCPO, he said: "You had promised that you will instruct the TPO Saddar not to stop the incoming book-lovers in front of Hotel Metropole, and allow them to go inside the Bagh-i-Jinnah and park their vehicles there."

He regretted that even after about one month, instructions are not being followed by policemen posted on Fatima Jinnah Road and people are concerned over the attitude of the police.

He sent the news clippings to the CCPO about public sufferings and stated that the tight security has frustrated the book-lovers. Referring to his telephonic discussion on Sept 27, the Nazim stated that the CCPO has promised that he would instruct the TPO concerned to allow the book-lovers to proceed towards Bagh-i-Jinnah without any hindrance.

"You had agreed with me that this procedure would not be a security hazard for the residence of the US consul-general." The City Police Chief, Tariq Jamil, confirmed that he had been approached by the City Nazim on the issue. He also confirmed that he has received instructions from the City Nazim to facilitate the visitors. "We will allow the visitors to park their vehicles inside the Bagh-i-Jinnah," Tariq Jamil said.

He said the City Nazim had complained about the sufferings of the people owing to security procedures. "I have directed the officers concerned to ensure that book-lovers be facilitated and they should not face any difficulty", he added.