ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: The government is all set to cocoon the federal capital from opposition protests as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) prepares to receive nomination papers for the presidential elections on Thursday, officials said.

A senior officer in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration told Dawn that extraordinary security arrangements were being made as President Pervez Musharraf was likely to submit his nomination papers to the chief election commissioner.

However, it is yet to be confirmed officially whether the the president will himself come to the ECP offices, the officer said, adding that the decision would be taken on Wednesday.

Five platoons of Pakistan Rangers, 2,000 men of Punjab Constabulary, Elite Force and personnel of the Islamabad police would be deployed in and around the capital city for the next four days to avoid any untoward incident.

Besides, heavy deployment of law-enforcement agencies’ personnel is also being ensured to restrict entry of opposition activists into Islamabad, especially the Constitution Avenue, ECP offices and the Supreme Court building.

Scores of law-enforcers will cordon off the Constitution Avenue from all sides. Likewise, the roads leading towards the Supreme Court and the Election Commission will be closed to the general public, opposition workers and lawyers.

Snipers equipped with modern and sophisticated weapons will man rooftops of buildings located on the Constitution Avenue.

The ICT administration had evolved a three-tier plan to deal with any violent situation.

Baton-wielding personnel of the Punjab Constabulary and Islamabad police will intercept the leadership, activists and workers of opposition parties and lawyers, who have planned to reach the ECP and Supreme Court buildings, the officer said.

In case of any breach, personnel of the Elite Force will come forward and use tear gas and rubber bullets to push back the mob, he added.

Use of Rangers is the last opposition for the administration if the police and Elite Force failed to disperse the supporters of the opposition, the officer said.

Personnel of law-enforcement agencies deployed at all the entry points into the capital city will also take strict action against the opposition activists and lawyers.

Meanwhile, the crackdown against the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) leadership and workers continued on Tuesday with over 300 arrests in Islamabad only, sources in the police said.

Opposition activists are being detained and stopped from entering the capital in view of their declared plan to lay siege to the Election Commission offices on Thursday to prevent the submission of Gen Pervez Musharraf’s nomination papers.

The sources said the law-enforcement agencies had been provided with a list of opposition leaders and workers for making arrests. Another list carries the names of those leaders and workers whose entry into Islamabad shall be blocked.

According to the sources, the capital administration and police had requested the provincial government and law- enforcement agencies of NWFP to stop the opposition leaders and use force if needed.

The ICT administration has also issued notices to some opposition leaders hailing from NWFP to leave the capital city immediately.