ISLAMABAD: The capital administration has approached five different departments of the federal government with request to place their buildings at its disposal where it could lodge the law enforcers called from other provinces to counter Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) dharna, sources told Dawn on Wednesday.

The district magistrate issued separate letters to director general, staff welfare organisation working under the Establishment Division, joint secretary (Haj) Ministry of Religious Affairs, director general Sports Complex and project director AIOU campus at Mera Begwal, Bhara Kahu, they added

The letter said in order to maintain law and order in the capital during long march/sit-in by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the capital police have requisitioned force/LEAs to perform law and order duties. It is therefore, requested that Community Centre Aabpara with all halls, Community Centre Sectro G-9 with all halls, Haj Complex including courtyard of mosque and all halls, Sports Complex with Liaquat Gymnasium and allied halls and AIOU Campus at Mera Bhaigwal Bharakau may please be placed at the disposal of the capital administration with effect from October 23 till the end of long marach/sit-in, the letter stated.

The letters was sent by the administration in response to a request made by SSP headquarters seeking accommodation for the personnel, being called from different provinces and Azad Kashmir, they added.

The capital police have already demanded a force of 25,000 personnel and in this regard the request has been made to Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Sindh police and Frontier Constabulary to spare the force, the officials said, adding that in response Punjab, Azad Kashmir and FC have replied positively, while Sindh has yet to respond.

“The Punjab police has agreed to provide a contingent of 5,000 personnel, Azad Kashmir 2,000 and FC 7,000,” they said, adding that efforts were in progress to arrange the contingent as demanded by the capital police.

Published in Dawn October 20th, 2016