ISLAMABAD: The capital police on Wednesday removed containers from all roads leading to Red Zone but remained sceptical about the move, terming it risky.

According to a report prepared by the City Zone police under whose jurisdiction the Red Zone falls, since the activists of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were still there, militants might penetrate the area in their guise and target a government installation.

Also read: Security measures make life difficult for people in Islamabad

The containers were removed on the directives of Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, police officials told Dawn.

The move however brought relief to the residents as well as commuters travelling to the Red Zone.

Police remove containers from roads leading to high security zone

“We do not have to wait for hours in long queues now,” said Mohammad Rizwan, who lives in the Red Zone.

About 90 containers had been placed at PTV Chowk, Ayub Chowk, Aga Khan Road, Secretariat Chowk and France Chowk on Constitution Avenue; Radio Pakistan Chowk on Shahrah-i-Jamhuriat; Serena Chowk at Khyaban-i-Suhrawardy; Convention Centre on Murree Road and Margalla Road.

The officials quoting the report said the removal of containers was ill-timed.

Instead of removing the containers, the security of the area should have been strengthened,they said, adding that in case of any untoward incident neither the police nor the administration would be responsible as they acted on the direction of the minister.

The capital police and administration placed the containers in and around the Red Zone to stop PAT and PTI activists from entering the Constitution Avenue, the officials said, adding that the protesters removed some of the containers and moved to Constitution Avenue on August 17.

The government, including the interior minister, claimed that the hurdles were aimed at checking the entry of militants and explosive-laden vehicles as there were intelligence reports that terrorists might target the gatherings, the officials said.

A police officer on condition of anonymity told Dawn: “As the number of participants had reduced during the last couple of days, there was no need to block roads to restrict their movement.”

Under such circumstances, to keep containers on the roads would only increase their rent, he added.

The police will pay Rs3,000 rent per day for each container to their owners, he said, adding that a summary was being prepared which would be sent to the finance ministry for funds.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2014