October 04, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 04, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: Police deployed at the entry points of Islamabad are allegedly minting money by misusing a ban imposed on the entry of heavy vehicles into the capital city.

The ban has apparently been imposed on the entry of heavy inter-city public transport vehicles as well as trucks and dumpers during Eid holidays due to fear of a terrorist attack.

Since Wednesday, coasters and coaches entering the city from Peshawar Motorway are being stopped at Golra Chowk and diverted to the I.J. Principal Road in Rawalpindi.

They are being asked to disembark their passengers outside the capital despite the fact that the vehicles are meant to reach the general bus terminal at Karachi Company.

Police deployed near Golra Chowk were of the view that the ban on the entry of heavy transport vehicles would remain in place till Monday when all government offices would reopen after Eid holidays.

They said the move was part of the security arrangements to save the city from suicide attacks and to ensure that no suspected vehicle entered the capital.

This measure was taken after the September 20 suicide bomb blast at Marriott hotel.

However, as the police diverted many vehicles to the I. J. Principal Road on Friday afternoon, they also allowed few passengers vans and coasters to enter the capital.

The drivers and conductors of some of the vehicles allowed into the capital from Golra told Dawn that they had handed the police over Rs300 for each entry.

In reply to a question, a driver said those who opted to move towards Rawalpindi were also heading to the capital but through a ‘cheaper’ point.

Ironically, none of those coasters which were allowed entry from Golra were searched by the police.

All they had to do was to take their conductors or drivers to one side for a minute or two for a brief chat. Then there was a handshake plus smile before they were given clearance without checking the passengers or vehicles.

The conductors and drivers said the money was often handed to the policemen during the brief handshake.

This reporter was travelling in one of the coasters that opted to enter the city through I-14 from I. J. Principal Road on a route located in front of the popular German store, Metro.

Just a few metres away from Metro, police had barricaded the road and were signalling the incoming coasters and buses to stop.

But to the utter surprise of many here as well, all the vehicles were allowed without checking or searching anyone inside. The entry fee at this point was Rs100.

“That’s why this remained the busiest entry point of the capital throughout the day,” said the conductor.

“Give them a few bucks and then bring a bomb to the capital. No one will stop you for a search,” he added.

He had also given Rs100 to the police before he was allowed to enter the city.

According to passengers and transporters, this was the Eidee drive of the police which was considered a normal and legitimate practice.

But people were not ready to buy the reason police were giving for not allowing inter-city transport vehicles to enter the capital before Monday as many people working in private firms and media organisations had to reach Islamabad on Friday.

If the general bus terminal was located in Karachi Company how was it possible not to allow the vehicles coming to this terminal, asked Asim Khan, one of the passengers.