ISLAMABAD: The Crime Intelligence Agency’s building in the federal capital has been declared a sub-jail by the Islamabad administration to detain the leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) during the ongoing protests.

Officials of the capital police told Dawn that during the ongoing protests, the capital police have arrested over 500 local leaders and workers.

Due to the engagements in security duties and shortage of space in the lockups of the police stations police, arrested political individuals will neither be interrogated nor transported anywhere else, they said.

“Currently, all the prison vans and other police vehicles are deployed at different localities as per the security plan. Detaining such arrested persons in the lockups of the police stations is a risk under the prevailing circumstances,” the officers said.

Sources said more police stations will be declared sub-jails if required.

The arrests were made from various areas including Faizabad, Tarnol, Sangjani, Chongi No 26, Express Chowk, Noon, Nilore, Shams Colony, and Banigala.

So far, the capital police have registered seven cases against the leaders and workers of the protesting party ‘for creating unrest and undermining public safety.’

The Sihala police have booked two nominated and 325 unidentified persons, Shahzad Town 402, Banigala 382, and the Shams Colony police have booked 450 accused in multiple cases. Similarly, the Nilore and Tarnol police have booked over 350 and over 300 individuals respectively under various charges.

According to the FIRs, the implicated individuals were armed with weapons, iron punches, iron rods, batons, stones and sharp marble pieces.

The police claimed that the accused resorted to aerial firing, pelted vehicles with stones and blocked roads, chanting anti-government slogans and forcefully closing shops.

Moreover, the capital police Monday partially opened major thoroughfares where shipping containers were placed to block the flow of traffic.

At these blockage points, the barricades were partially removed to make way for a single vehicle to cross at a time.

The police officers further said that the convoy of the PTI leaders and workers coming from KP comprised over 34,000 persons. Till late in the evening, the protestors had crossed the Hakla interchange.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of the Islamabad Police (IGP), Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, visited D-Chowk and various other areas to inspect anti-riot measures.

He met the officials of Islamabad police and other law enforcement agencies to boost their morale, who according to him were performing duties in order to maintain peace in the federal capital.

On the occasion, IGP Islamabad instructed the officials to be highly alert to deal with any emerging law and order situation.

“Will shall take every possible measure to protect the lives and property of citizens and thwart adventurism,” he said while addressing the officials.

He further said officials were performing their duties, putting their best efforts to maintain peace in the capital.

All the officers have been directed to stay vigilant in their respective areas and brief the personnel to deal with any untoward situation.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2024