CHAKWAL, Jan 1: Students, traders and general public should brace for a “curfew-like situation” on January 5, the day when Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would land in the city along with Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi to address a public meeting at Government Postgraduate College ground.

The visit would be the first by any prime minister during the current tenure of the PPP. Raja Pervez Asharf has been asked to visit Chakwal by Raja Sanaul Haq, the elder brother of Raja Azimul Haq, the son-in-law of the prime minister.

Dawn has learnt that the authorities have planned to keep the college (the venue for the meeting) shut for three days for “security reasons”.

The local leaders of Pakistan People’s Party have decided to hold the public meeting at the ground of college, located in the heart of the city, despite the availability of three other grounds.

On Tuesday, the personnel of intelligence agencies visited the college and inspected it and asked the principal to keep the college shut for three days (January 3 to 5).

However, the students of other educational institutions, traders and general public would have to face a tough time on January 5 as there would be no public holiday.

Meanwhile, a meeting in this regard was also held at district coordination officer’s (DCO) office in which the security concerns were discussed.

“I asked the personnel of intelligence agencies to proceed through the DCO. I would obey the order of higher authorities”, College Principal Professor Aslam Kahoot said.

The news of closure of the college has sent a wave of shock among its students and teachers. “The study of students would be affected badly if the college remains closed for three days”, a lecturer told Dawn. “The exam of BS classes would commence at the end of this month and we have hardly twenty days to finish the syllabus,” he said.

As the college is located in the heart of the city it is exposed to security risks. Keeping in view this situation the authorities have chalked out a tough security plan.

According to the plan all roads leading to college would be sealed. Twelve walk-through gates would be installed and more than one thousand policemen would be deployed on duty. As many as 800 constables, eight DSPs, thirty inspectors and roundabout 178 sub inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors have been called from Rawalpindi. PM would address through bullet-proof rostrum.

“There would be a curfew-like situation and nobody would be allowed to enter the college without checking,” Raja Zohaib the Chief Security Officer of Chakwal Police said.

On the other hand the workers and leaders of PPP are looked very excited. The city has been decorated with the banners and hoardings, carrying pictures of the prime minister and his deputy.

Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi who would contest election from NA 61 (Chakwal II) from where he was defeated in last general elections would also try his best to woo the voters.

When contacted DCO Ahmad Aiz Tarar said that the college might be closed due to security reasons but final decision in this regard had not been taken.

Talking to Dawn Shahjahan Sarfaraz Raja, the district president of PPP, said that PM’s visit would prove fruitful for the people of Chakwal as PM would announce some mega development projects. When asked why the college has been chosen for such a big public rally, he said, “We want to show Prime Minister the largest college of Punjab so that he could give it university status”.

When asked whether the prime minister could give the university status to the college, Shahjahan Raja said: “The announcement by the prime minister would pave the way for university”.

He also claimed that the prime minister would also announce the construction of Neela Interchange.

“We would give a surprise on January 5 as a huge crowed would be there”, Raja Sanaul Haq, the PPP leader said.