ISLAMABAD: As per a decision of the district administration and law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order on the occasion of voting on the no-confidence motion against the prime minister on Sunday, strict security was observed outside the Red Zone.

However, 13 people, including three women, reached in front of the Parliament House after which they were taken into custody and released outside the Red Zone.

Only one entrance i.e. Margallah Avenue remained open and it was ensured that only members of the parliament were allowed to enter the Red Zone.

A senior police official, requesting not to be quoted, said there were rumours that the government will call the PTI workers to stop the dissident MNAs from entering the assembly and there was a possibility that law and order situation would be affected.

“However, on Saturday night, it was decided that only parliamentarians would be allowed to enter the Red Zone. All entrances in Red Zone, including Nadra Chowk, D-Chowk and Serena Chowk, were sealed. Vacations of police officials were cancelled.”

He said 8,000 officials of the police and over 4,000 personnel of Punjab police, Rangers and FC were also deputed in the city to maintain law and order and stop workers of the PTI from entering the Red Zone.

“Despite this, 13 workers of the PTI reached outside the Parliament House and started waving party flags and chanting slogans. So all of them were taken into custody and later released outside the Red Zone. We believe that they had reached there on Saturday and spent the night in some building in the Red Zone,” he said.

The official said the traffic police had also issued a diversion plan for the day. He said citizens were already advised to avoid unnecessary travelling in the city on Sunday.

Meanwhile, as Sunday was the first day of Ramazan, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Ahsan Younus had ‘Iftar’ with policemen deputed on law and order duty.

While encouraging the personnel, he said every officials of the police were determined to perform their duties during the scorching heat.

“I am proud of the professionalism, bravery and good faith with which every officer of Islamabad police has performed his duties during the last several days of political activities,” said IGP.

He asked them to accomplish their responsibilities in a professional manner during the holy month of Ramazan and continue the work with zeal and zest.

The purpose of this activity was to keep the morale of the police personnel high as they were ensuring protection to the lives and property of the citizens.

A number of police officers also had ‘Iftar’ with their subordinates performing duties across the city.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2022