The call to observe countrywide wheeljam strike has been given by the Afghan Defence Council (ADC), an alliance of religious parties, protesting against the government’s decision to support the US in the fight against terrorism.
The sources said many activists of religious groups and political parties, who had been criticizing the government’s policies during the protests for the past several days, were arrested under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO-16). It has been learnt that more arrests would be made during the night.
However, the Islamabad police confirmed the arrest of only Sajid Abbasi, an active member of Muslim Students Federation (MSF). He has been detained by the Industrial Area police.
Meanwhile, the Mutahidda Transport Association, Rawalpindi- Islamabad has decided to move the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the Rawalpindi police for impounding 45 buses.
The president of the Association, Shabbir Hussain Bangash, told Dawn that the buses had been impounded by the police, despite their assurance that they would not take part in the strike on Friday. “We condemn the police action and a petition will be filed in the LHC in this regard,” he added.
However, he said the transporter would ply their vehicles on various routes on Friday. He asked the district administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to provide security to the transporters during the strike.
When contacted, an official of the district administration told Dawn that police would not force any one to ply vehicles or open shops, but complete protection would be provided to those, who were willing to ply their vehicles and open shops. He said there would be no ban on entry of people into Islamabad on Friday.
Earlier, Islamabad police staged a ‘flag march’ on various roads of the capital in which more than two dozen police buses and jeeps took part. The objective of the march was to provide a sense of security to the people.
It is expected that a large number of shops will remain closed on Friday because public holiday, announced by the government in connection with the birth anniversary of national poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal. Similarly, all offices, schools and commercial concerns are also scheduled to remain closed. Therefore, according to the observers, it will be difficult to judge exact impact of the strike.
Though, the leaders of the religious parties in a recent meeting with officials of the Rawalpindi administration had expressed their resolve to remain peaceful during the strike, the administration has taken preventive measures to protect the lives and property of the citizens.
District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani, who has held several rounds of talks with civil and military authorities, told Dawn the administration was fully alive to the situation and would not allow anti-state elements to exploit the situation.
He said the Rawalpindi city had been divided into 12 sectors. “The patrolling in these sectors has been intensified and two reserve force contingents have been deployed in each sector. Extra reserve force contingents have been made available and will be moved to any location, if and when required,” he said while giving details of the arrangements.
Troops are already deployed in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and bunkers have been set up at key positions.
The Nazim said though there were no indications of any sabotage activity or violent protests, but the administration was taking these steps as there were fears that any quarter could take advantage of the volatile situation.
Similarly, Islamabad has been divided into three zones and 1,200 policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order. All police officials have been directed to arrest any one trying to force others to close down businesses or found creating law and order situation.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Jamaat-i-Islami claimed that top management of a private bus company had assured them that their buses would remain off the road on Friday.