ISLAMABAD: The local administration and organisers of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) protest rally have reached an agreement on the route and timing of the rally on Tuesday.

The local administration has chalked out a security and traffic plan for Tuesday to maintain law and order and ensure smooth flow of traffic on alternative routes.

Over 7,000 security personnel, including contingents of Rangers and police, will be deployed, especially in Red Zone.

According to the PDM, rallies will be brought out from various areas in Islamabad and Rawalpindi which will culminate at Serena Hotel.

From the hotel, top PDM leadership will lead the rally to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) where hearing of the foreign funding case against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is likely to take place on Wednesday.

The rally will start at Serena Chowk at 1pm and reach the ECP building at 2pm.

“We have made a diversion plan for traffic as Srinagar Highway and Islamabad Expressway will be used by the PDM for marching towards the election commission office,” a senior official of the local administration told Dawn.

According to the traffic plan, judges, lawyers, staff of the Supreme Court, Parliament House, Presidency, PM House and government officials coming to Pakistan Secretariat will use Margalla Road and Aga Khan Road to reach Constitution Avenue.

Entry to Diplomatic Enclave will partially be sealed during the protest.

Earlier, organisers of the protest and the capital administration reached an agreement over the route and timing of the protest, officials of the capital administration and police said.

The rally of the PDM will enter the capital from Faizabad via Murree Road and will assemble at Kashmir Chowk. The rally will use Serena Chowk at Khayaban-i-Suhrawardi to reach the ECP building at Constitution Avenue.

Arrangements have been made at Convention Centre for the participants to park their vehicles there. The protesters coming from Rawalpindi, Bhara Kahu and Murree will use Club Road to reach the Convention Centre.

Those coming from G.T. Road and the motorway will reach Convention Centre via Srinagar Highway. Murree Road is reserved for those coming from the expressway and Rawalpindi to reach the centre.

After parking the vehicles at the centre, the participants will march towards the ECP office after passing walk-through gates installed at different points.

The operation wing of the capital police also chalked out a security plan. Paramilitary troops will assist the local administration and police in the security.

Over 1,800 police personnel, including five SPs and 10 DSPs, will perform duties under supervision of the SSP operations Islamabad to ensure the implementation of the code of conduct agreed between the organisers and the district administration.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2021