KARACHI, Sept 4: The city government gears up to hold a book bazaar on the lawns of the Frere Hall on Sunday amid reports that law-enforcement agencies refuse to cooperate.
Capital City Police Chief Tariq Jamil told Dawn on Saturday that police would allow the book bazaar to be held only if the visitors were frisked.
"The police will not allow the visitors to park their cars on the premises of the Frere Hall. We have informed the city nazim about our security concerns. He has authorized us to take strict security measures," he said.
However, Karachi Nazim Naimatullah Khan insisted that the visitors would be allowed to park their cars on the premises of the Frere Hall.
"I will be there myself and I will ensure that the visitors and book lovers are not inconvenienced.
I have spoken to the capital city police officer and the Saddar town police officer. Both of them have assured me that the book bazaar would be held smoothly," he said.
Sources in the city government's culture department said that by 6.30pm on Saturday evening booksellers had not been allowed to take their wares to the Frere Hall and make arrangements for the bazaar.
"At least 25 booksellers have confirmed their participation. But police officials standing near Abdullah Haroon Road and Fatima Jinnah Road are not allowing them to go towards the Frere Hall," they said.
Saddar Town Police Officer Dr Sanaullah Abbasi told Dawn that the police officials deputed near the Frere Hall had been directed to let the booksellers in.
He added that the directives would be conveyed to the police officials concerned in a little while.
It may be recalled that hundreds of book lovers were turned away from the Sunday book bazaar on May 29 as law-enforcement agencies tightened up security on the roads leading to the Frere Hall. The Sunday book bazaar was closed following two bomb blasts in front of the Pak-American Cultural Center which occurred in quick succession on May 26, killing a policeman.
Earlier, the Sindh government closed the Sunday book bazaar on Aug 24, 2003 at the request of the US consul-general.
However, the Karachi nazim, Naimatullah Khan, reopened the bazaar after a gap of two weeks.