ISLAMABAD: Owing to a shortage of sufficient personnel to man the security of the armed forces contingents participating in the preparations for the Pakistan Day parade, police have sought 2,000 reinforcements from the police service of Punjab, Azad Kashmir as well as the Frontier Constabulary, police officials told Dawn on Thursday.

The personnel will form three security rings during rehearsals and on the day of the event, which is being held this March 23 after a gap of seven years.

The police department made the request through the capital administration and have sought the assistance of 1,000 Punjab Police personnel, along with 30 Elite Force teams of seven members each.

In addition, capital city police have also requested the Azad Kashmir police force and the Frontier Constabulary to arrange 500 personnel each and place them on standby, sources said, adding that the contingent would be summoned when required to beef up security for the event.

Police say businesses, seminaries in high-security zone will remain closed

The department has asked for Rs1.8million from the interior ministry to bear the food and transport expenses of the personnel who will be summoned to the capital for a period of six days, they added.

Moreover, the administration has banned the use of camera drones or skycams, as well kite-flying in the city until March 23, adding that a proposal to ban pillion riding was also under consideration.

Hotels, restaurants, markets and religious seminaries located near the venue will also be closed from March 18 to 23.

A senior capital administration official told Dawn, “There may be one or two full-scale rehearsals before the main event itself, but the timing of these rehearsals had been kept secret by the army due to security concerns.

There are seven religious seminaries in the vicinity of the parade venue and the area that has been designated a ‘high-security zone’. According to police officials, after negotiations with the seminary administrators, it had been agreed that the students would be given a long weekend.

Aabpara Market, which is also located inside the high-security perimeter, would remain closed at the time of the rehearsal as well as on the day itself.

Published in Dawn March 13th, 2015

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