August 18, 2005	Thursday	Rajab 12, 1426

KARACHI, Aug 17: Police may open fire at an unruly crowd during the local body elections if the law and order situation in any area goes out of control. This was stated by DIG (Operations), Karachi, Mushtaq Shah, while briefing newsmen on security arrangements for the polls here on Wednesday. He said that police had identified 492 trouble-spots where the law and order situation had posed problems during previous polls.

Asked if police had been authorized to open fire if the law and order situation deteriorated at any place in the city on the polling day, Mr Shah said that no special permission would be required for doing so. “However, it will depend on the situation and the decision will be taken on the spot”, he added.