ISLAMABAD: Over 5,000 officials of law enforcement agencies and intelligence services have been deputed in the federal capital for the security of 70 delegates from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member and non-member states and international organisations who are expected to leave the capital city on Monday.

The delegates, 20 led by foreign ministers, reached Islamabad to attend the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers called by Saudi Arabia.

The goal of the summit was to convince the countries to support people of Afghanistan and avoid chances of humanitarian crisis in the neighbouring country.

Initially, the district administration had considered suspending mobile phone service in the city from Dec 17 to 19.

However, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced that the service will not be suspended as it would have made media coverage of the summit difficult.

However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to declare a public holiday in the capital on Monday (today) due to movement and security of the delegations who will be departing from the city on Monday.

A police official requesting not to be quoted said over 5,000 officials of the army, police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Rescue 15 and Islamabad Traffic Police will be deployed to ensure safe return of the delegates.

“After declaring a public holiday on Monday, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has issued a notification that all educational institutions in the capital will remain closed. Similarly, majority of offices will also remain closed and there will be very thin traffic in the city,” he said.

The capital police have already cancelled leaves of all its officials and directed them to report on duty.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2021