ISLAMABAD: In a bid to stop the PTI supporters from attending a much-awaited public gathering on the outskirts of Islamabad near Sangjani, the Islamabad administration took extraordinary security measures and blocked all the entry points of the city with containers.

Despite the hurdles that had been put up to frustrate the party supporters, a large number of participants managed to reach the venue to attend the gathering. As per the NOC, the PTI was allowed to hold the meeting from 4pm to 7pm. At 6pm, the administration officials approached the PTI leadership at the venue to inform them that only an hour had been left to end the power show.

They said the PTI organisers would face legal action if the gathering violated the schedule.

Police officers told Dawn almost all the entry points of the capital and arteries were blocked with containers. Containers were placed at Zero Point, Faisal Chowk, Khayaban Chowk, Express Chowk, Agha Khan Road Marriot Hotel, Picket ISI on Margalla Road, Suharwardy Road Serena Hotel, Fata House Nadra Headquarters, and Bari Imam T-Cross, Nicholson’s Monument, New Margalla Turn on GT Road, Sangjani Toll Plaza, Water Tanki on Margalla Road, New Margalla Road loop opposite F-10/2, Chongi No 26, Secretariat Metro Station, Margalla Road, Kohsar Turn on Margalla Road, Rawat T-Cross, Khanna Bridge, Tramri Chowk, Shahpur Road, U-Turn on Murree Road near Banigala, Bridge on Murree Road, near Traffic Office, Faizabad, Ninth Avenue, Gandum Godam, Golra Mor, Motorway old Toll Plaza, Tarnol Phattak, were blocked with containers.

Police bar hotels from selling food, renting out rooms near Sangjani venue; over 5,000 law enforcement, paramilitary personnel deployed

A contingent of 1000 Rangers was also deployed at Zero Point, Faisal Chowk, Aabpara Chowk, China Chowk, Khayaban Chowk, Embassy Road Turn Suharwardy Road, Express Chowk, and Bari Imam T-Cross among other places.

About 4,087 police personnel, including three DIGs, seven SSPs, 14 SPs, 29 DSPs/ASPs, and 39 inspectors, along with 1,600 paramilitaries were deployed for law and order duty. The supervisory officers were made responsible that none of the officials would be armed, except for those deployed on roofs.

Thirteen strike forces comprising 25 platoons of police and 420 FC personnel were also constituted that were on standby at the Safe City Authority and the agriculture building. Seven arrest teams were also constituted along with eight anti-riot teams.

Besides, 70 platoons were also constituted and deployed at various locations, including the Sangjani police station and Chongi No 26, with prison vans, armed personnel carriers, and handcuffs.

‘Suspicious bag’

Meanwhile, the police spotted a suspicious bag at the venue and a bomb disposal squad was called in. During the search, two mortars, two hand grenades, explosives, detonators and wire were recovered, police said, adding that the squad defused the explosives and shifted the recovery to a police installation. After the recovery, the capital administration put Islamabad under red alert.

The security and law and order plan issued by the police described the threat level for terrorism as ‘medium.’

Moreover, the capital police also threatened the guest houses and catering services operating in and around Sangjani by asking them to shut down their businesses from September 7 at 8:00pm till the morning of September 9. Police also barred them from renting out rooms. “Strict action will be taken against those who will not follow the order,” it added. Two platoons were constituted to enforce the order about businesses, including hotels.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2024