ISLAMABAD: Red Zone has partially been sealed and only one road remains open for entry that too after strict verification and checking.

Senior police officers told Dawn that except one all roads leading towards the high security area had been closed.

On the directives of the deputy inspector general of police (DIG) operations Waqaruddin Syed, a high alert was declared in the capital the other day. Later, the Red Zone was partially sealed.

“Only officials and residents of areas along with those who have genuine and important work to do in the area are allowed to enter till further order,” said an officer. The area is closed from Khayaban-i-Suhrwardy, Constitution Avenue and Third Avenue.

“Access to the area is allowed from Margalla Road as it is open for selected people,” the officer stated.

Contingents of well-equipped police officials are deployed in and around the Red Zone. Security officials deployed at Margalla Raod have been directed to check and verify those entering the area.

A couple of pickets have also been established on different roads leading towards the Red Zone. When contacted and asked about any specific reason for the high security, the DIG operations said there was no specific reason behind it.

Sources in the police said the step was taken after senior police officers were directed to put in place tight security measures in the capital.

There is an alert about a sabotage activity and measures required to counter it, they added.

The police also mounted vigilance at the entry points of the capital as well as bus terminals to keep an eye on people coming from other parts of the country.

But despite the high level of security, some individuals carried out wall-chalking against the police even though it is banned in the capital. The anti-police wall-chalking was carried out in the limits of the Golra police.

‘Islamabad police Murdabad’ was found written on the walls and police came to know about it after some people made a video of it and shared it on the social media.

It may be mentioned that a group of four terrorist attacked a police picket at Chungi No 26 last week and killed two police officials. The police have registered a case at the Counter-Terrorism Department police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

DIG Syed said police were investigating the wall-chalking and had registered the matter in its daily diary for further legal action.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2020