ISLAMABAD: The capital police has asked the federal government to extend their executive authority and jurisdiction to Islamabad International Airport (IIA) and motorways to maintain law and order and exercise their legal mandate during the prevailing situation due to the PTI protests and long march, Dawn has learnt.

The same extension has also been demanded towards the National Highways and Motorway Police (MHNP) and other law enforcement agencies.

In a letter written to the chief commissioner’s office from Central Police Office Islamabad, uninterrupted access to strategic security installations of Islamabad Capital Territory including M-1 (Motorway Islamabad-Peshawar), M-2 (Islamabad-Lahore interchanges, Islamabad International Airport under Articles 97, 149 and 151 of the Constitution of Pakistan has been sought.

The letter said national routes leading to IIA fall within the local jurisdiction and area of district Rawalpindi, Attock and Islamabad. However, districts Rawalpindi and Attock are situated within the administrative and control of the Punjab province, it added. It is important for the capital police to ensure that LEAs are given access to these points of strategic importance, the letter said, adding that moreover, all civil and military leadership, representatives of international agencies, diplomats and foreign dignitaries use these gateways to approach Islamabad and it is the responsibility of the state to give security and protection to diplomats and foreign dignitaries from IIA to the city.

Any untoward incident at the airport, within the vicinity of the airport or on any of the adjoining areas of the roads to the airport may tarnish the country’s reputation, it said, adding that these national means of communication are of strategic importance.

In the wake of law and order situations and during movement of VVIPs and dignitaries, any untoward incident on the way to and from IIA and three motorway toll plazas for access to Islamabad, Thallian and Peshawar may be detrimental.

Inaccessibility of these locations by federal and capital LEAs of Islamabad may also cause disruption of interprovincial trade, security and economy with serious consequences, the letter said, adding that this threat assessment has also been verified from other independent sources.

The executive authority and jurisdiction of the federal government - capital police, NHA and National Highway and Motorway police and other LEAs - may please be extended for the purpose of preventing any threat to the peace, tranquillity and economic life of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2022