RAWALPINDI: Corps Commander Lt-Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) to remove all flags and wall chalking by religious outfits in the cantonment areas to avoid any sectarian clash in the area.

According to intelligence reports received by the corps commander, different sectarian groups in cantonment areas had been flexing their muscles against each other after the Ashura clash in Raja Bazaar.

They have also installed banners and created wall chalking to spread sectarian hatred.

To avoid any clash, the garrison commander last week asked the cantonment board authorities to launch a campaign to remove all the wall chalking and banners within three days. However, the cantonment authorities have so far not launched the drive.

When contacted, RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Rana Manzoor Ahmad Khan said they would start the drive from Monday and remove all the banners and wall chalking within two days.

“The issue was already in our notice and we have planned to remove all the banners and wall chalking,” he said and added that the RCB launched drives to remove such wall chalking time to time.

Meanwhile, the corps commander also directed the RCB to launch a beautification drive at Saddar and the Mall around the General Headquarters (GHQ).

After this, the RCB removed all the encroachments from the roads around the GHQ and will soon start a plantation drive.