ISLAMABAD: The capital police on Tuesday partially sealed the Red Zone to avoid any untoward incident during and after the announcement of the verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case, police said.

All entry points to the Red Zone were sealed, except Margalla Road and Aga Khan Road, on Tuesday morning, they said.

The step was taken to avoid entry of people and gatherings inside the Red Zone and any presence on Constitution Avenue and in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) building, the police said, adding that a mini-truck loaded with 2,000 long range and 2,000 short range teargas shells was put on standby at the Police Lines headquarters. Besides, 1,000 long range and 1,000 short range teargas shells and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) was put at the disposal of a superintendent of police (SP) on Constitution Avenue.

Another APC was deployed outside the Parliament, the police said, adding that 1,390 personnel, including 200 Rangers and 110 Frontier Constabulary (FC) officials, were deployed in and around the Red Zone and Constitution Avenue.

Step taken to avoid unwanted gatherings, police say

Barbed wire was put in place in front of the ECP while 100 personnel of Rangers, 30 officials of FC anti-riot unit (ARU), 10 platoons of police, 90 personnel of police ARU, 36 officials equipped with teargas shells and 30 policewomen were deployed.

Three platoons of police, along with 36 officials of police ARU, 30 personnel of FC ARU were deployed at the backside of the ECP building, the police said.

Two platoons of police along with 36 officials of police ARU were deployed at the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) building, the police said. A police platoon along with 18 personnel of police ARU were also deployed along a path near ECP.

Six platoons of police and 54 personnel of police ARU, 36 personnel equipped with tear gas shells along with 25 personnel of FC ARU, 50 personnel of Rangers were deployed at Khayaban-i-Suhrawardi.

Barbed wire was placed on the road while two prison vehicles were also brought there, the police said, adding that officials were also deployed at Nadra Headquarters Chowk and it was closed with containers.

Containers were placed on Ataturk Avenue near State Bank Chowk and Express Chowk, the police said, adding that barbed wire was placed at Radio Pakistan Chowk, Ataturk Avenue near Fata House, Aga Khan Road, Bari Imam Chowk, Faizabad, Zero Point Bridge and F-9 Park.

Five platoons of police along with 51 personnel of ARU and 36 personnel of equipped with tear gas shells were deployed at Secretariat police station.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2022