ISLAMABAD - Ahead of arrival of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri at Islamabad airport, the federal government has decided to put a ban on all congregations in the federal capital, besides strengthening the security of all the entry and exit points of the federal capital.
The federal government has decided to take a number of security measures on the arrival of the PAT chief at Islamabad airport on June 23 and it has been decided that no participant of the rally would be allowed to enter Islamabad.
These decisions were taken on Saturday in a meeting held at the ministry of interior in the chair of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to revive the overall security of twin cities, especially ahead of PAT chief’s arrival as well as in wake of recently launched military operation in North Waziristan Agency and a bomb blast at a shrine in the outskirts of the capital.
Meanwhile, authorities of Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad have informed the federal government that airport authorities would only allow the passengers, having valid tickets, into the airport on Sunday night and Monday. The workers of PAT would not be allowed to enter the airport premises, the airport authorities have decided in a meeting to ensure the security of airport.
The federal government has also decided to deploy troops in the area of Diplomatic Enclave as well as other parts of the capital on the eve of arrival of Dr Qadri. “The troops would remain in the Diplomatic Area from the time of arrival to departure of Qadri towards Lahore,” an official source informed.
The capital police have made a special security plan to avert any untoward situation on the eve of Dr Qadri and under the plan, all the entry and exit points of the capital would be well guarded so that no worker of PAT could enter the capital.
According to a statement issued buy the ministry of interior, Chaudhry Nisar in the security meeting directed the Chief Commissioner Islamabad Jawad Paul to put a ban on all congregations in the ICT as the level of threat was high because of ongoing operation in tribal areas and in the wake of terrorist incident at Chan Pir Darbar in the capital.
However, an official source said that ban had been as a preemptive measure ahead of Dr Qadri’s arrival at Islamabad airport, besides these two reasons.
The minister directed the police high-ups to review the overall security of the federal capital with particular reference to entry and exit points and identification of sensitive buildings in order to take security measures accordingly.
The meeting decided that entry and exit points of both cities would be put on high alert and areas surrounding the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and the city of Rawalpindi be thoroughly searched on war footings and be cleared of any unlawful elements. The chair remarked that joint patrolling teams of Rangers and police had given a sense of security to the residents of Islamabad and directed to strategise this exercise to get its more optimum use. The meeting decided that all routes of the capital area must be highly protected and special attention be paid to unconventional routes. It was decided in the meeting that that the security plan on the arrival of Dr Qadri would be devised in such a manner that security of those participating in the rally of PAT as well as general public be ensured by means of better coordination between the administration and police of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The minister directed that security of other parts of twin cities be also ensured at this moment so that no unlawful element could take advantage of the situation. He also directed to keep in view the facilitation of the common public while keeping strict security measures intact.
Commissioner Rawalpindi, inspector general of Police (IGP) Islamabad and regional police officer (RPO) Rawalpindi briefed the minister regarding security plan for twin cities and updated him about the latest measures that are being been taken at this moment.Secretary Interior, National Coordinator NACTA, DG Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), chief commissioner Islamabad, commissioner Rawalpindi, IGP Islamabad, RPO as well as CPO Rawalpindi and SSP Islamabad attended the meeting.