HARIPUR: Heavy contingents of police, backed by personnel of Frontier Corps, have been deployed at entry and exit points of the Haripur district to stop the planned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) procession on Sunday.

The federal government on Saturday authorised deployment of two companies of the FC on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s request to avert any untoward incident, as the TLP had announced that a procession to be led by its chief Saad Rizvi from Haripur towards Havelian in the adjacent Abbottabad district.

The KP home department had sent a letter to the interior secretary on Oct 12, requesting for deployment of armed forces in Haripur and Abbottabad districts fearing unrest due to the ‘illegal’ procession.

The provincial government, in its letter, stated the ‘illegal’ procession on Sunday in Havelian was likely to disrupt the peace in the region. There is a likelihood of sectarian clash or confrontation, as Havelian has heavy presence of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat supporters who had already announced resistance to any such procession.

In an order issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Interior authorised deployment of two companies of the FC, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as Quick Response Force in standby mode only under the Anti- Terrorism Act for security duties.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2022