RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi administration has deployed more than 5,500 police officials, including the elite force, for the security of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which will start in the garrison city on March 2 with two matches at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and end on March 10.

During the matches, the Shamsabad metro station will remain closed whereas the Faizabad and Rehmanabad bus stations will be closed during the movement of cricket teams for security reasons; however, the bus service will remain operational throughout the day. Similarly, the food street next to the stadium has been closed indefinitely due to the PSL matches.

A security plan has been formulated for the safety of the cricket teams. Pickets will be established at different points and vehicles will be checked by the police officials arbitrarily. 750 police officials will be deployed for the arrival and departure of cricket teams from the airport on the outskirts of Islamabad.

As 40 per cent area of the Islamabad airport falls in the limits of Attock, the Attock police will be deployed there while the Rawalpindi district police will ensure the security of the funnel area of the airport which falls in the limits of Rawalpindi district.

Food street next to stadium closed; traffic plan chalked out

Snipers will be deployed on the rooftops of buildings located along the route, while the police personnel deployed along the airport route will have metal detectors, umbrellas, torches, megaphones, barriers, barbed wires, and walk-through gates.

All the SHOs concerned have been directed to visit the rooftops of buildings located in the surroundings of the cricket stadium to clear the roofs from any material which could be used to disturb the peace. They will also be responsible for the sealing of their areas. The in-charges of teargas stores will be responsible for providing teargas shells while the additional stock will be provided in armoured personnel vans which will be stationed outside the cricket stadium.

Traffic plan

On the other hand, the city traffic police have chalked out a separate traffic diversion plan for PSL cricket matches to facilitate road users.

The traffic police have been assigned to arrange freight containers and to put them in appropriate places for traffic diversion and security. The police officials, including traffic police, have been barred from using cell phones during their duty hours.

Vantage points will be established at entry points which should not be visible to the public, while the police officials deployed there should have wireless sets, and wear bulletproof jackets and helmets.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2024