• Participants to stay at Shamsabad before marching towards capital
• 3,200 personnel of Punjab Constabulary called in to assist district police

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The long march of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is likely to enter Islamabad via Murree Road after making camps at two separate locations in Rawalpindi.

Senior police officials told Dawn that details collected by the capital police about the PTI’s long march suggested that the participants of the long march were likely to camp between Mandra and Gujar Khan on their way to Islamabad.

They added that the long march will reach T-Chowk and later Marir Hassan.

The long march will move on Murree Road and after reaching Shamsabad it will stay there, the officials said, adding that PTI chief Imran Khan is likely to stay at Punjab House in Rawalpindi.

According to a circular issued with the signature of Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masud, Pims will remain on high alert due to current political unrest and the long march.

The shift duty staff and emergency staff will perform their duties as usual, it said, adding that heads of general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic, and other departments are also requested to ensure the presence of on-call doctors according to the duty roster prepared in coordination with the medical director’s office.

Meanwhile, anti-riot gear, including teargas shells and rubbers bullets along with guns, were also provided to all police stations of the capital, except the women's police station.

Punjab Constabulary personnel

More than 3,200 personnel of the Punjab Constabulary (PC) have been called in to assist the district police to maintain peace and ensure foolproof security during the PTI long march which is expected to reach its destination via Rawalpindi.

The Punjab Home Department has directed the divisional commissioners and divisional police chiefs to chalk out a comprehensive security plan to ensure the safety and security of the long march.

A layer of close police protection in a specific radius will be ensured around former prime minister Imran Khan and no irrelevant person will be allowed to go near him.

Bulletproof glasses will also be installed around him during his addresses to the general public.

To ensure foolproof security, intelligence-based operations (IOBs) will be carried out by the Counter-Terrorism Department in coordination with other intelligence agencies and stakeholders.

According to the Home Department, technical sweeping by the Special Branch of all the routes and vulnerable places needed to be ensured along with action against aerial firing and display of weapons.

No drone will be allowed to fly in close proximity to the long march/rally or public gathering whereas tall buildings along the route of the long march must be security-wise cleared and manned by the respective district police.

The Punjab Home Department also asked the divisional and district police chiefs to inform the department in case of need of jamming of cellular services for maintaining law and order and to protect the life and property of the citizens.

According to the instructions, security of important installations, government buildings, banks, and foreign food outlets should be ensured. Quick Response Force (QRF) will be kept ready to handle any emergency situation in the minimum possible time, it added. Additionally, the bomb disposal squad and fire brigade should also be kept in a state of readiness to deal with any emergency.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2022