News
Monday, January 14, 2013
‘The great wall of containers’ guards Red Zone
* Army secures important buildings
* Additional police force from KP, Azad Kashmir sought
* Rehman Malik says commissioner and IG to work with Qadri’s staff on security
ISLAMABAD: The capital wore a deserted look on Sunday, while security arrangements have been extremely tightened on the eve of the arrival of Dr Qadri’s long march in Islamabad.
Authorities on Sunday morning shut down roads in the capital and hundreds of containers were placed on all the main roads.
Reportedly, additional police force from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir reached Islamabad on Sunday. The security personnel were guarding various entry and exit points on the Kashmir Highway and the Red Zone. The Pakistan Army secured important buildings in the Red Zone. According to reports, 22,500 security personnel have been deployed in the Red Zone.
Authorities also blocked the double road on the Faizabad interchange, linking the twin cities. Barbed wires have been erected on almost all the roads leading to the Parliament House and the Red Zone. The closure of key roads led to the diversion of traffic, causing a massive traffic jam on the double road on Faizabad Interchange and Sector I8. Commuters from the twin cities had a tough time commuting as the roads were closed. The markets, commercial establishments and offices were closed for the day. “It was as if the entire city had taken a holiday. Routes that usually see heavy traffic jams were almost deserted,” said a traffic policeman standing on the Islamabad highway.
Speaking to the media, Interior Minister Rehman Malik assured that the participants in the long march would be provided with security. He also said that the Islamabad commissioner and IG police had been directed to work with Qadri’s staff to ensure security. Security was beefed up and visible throughout the city with traffic police personnel stationed along major roads and rangers personnel stationed at D-Chowk and the Red Zone. Police personnel kept a tight vigil at AK Fazlul Haq Road and Luqman Hakeem Road, where the protesters are likely to enter into D-Chowk and the Red Zone. Reportedly, police and paramilitary forces have been provided with teargas shells, rubber bullets and arms worth Rs 50 million to curtail any untoward incident. CCTV cameras have been installed from Faizabad to the Red Zone as a security measure. staff report/inpCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk