Anti-Islam film: High alert in capital on possible protests tomorrow | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Anti-Islam film: High alert in capital on possible protests tomorrow

By: FAZAL SHER

Security remains on high alert in the capital city and law enforcement agencies have not yet removed containers and barbed wires placed around the Red Zone. “The city police have received information that some organisations are planning protests this coming Friday which may turn violent and consequently the city police has decided not to remove the containers yet,” an official said.

He said the number of security personnel had been increased on all roads leading to the Diplomatic Enclave and Red Zone. “The city police have made a special plan to handle any untoward incident as some protests against US in the city on Friday are expected”, he said.

The official said that under the plan special police teams had also been constituted by each police station for effective patrol in their respective jurisdiction. “Strict directives have been issued to police personnel deputed at the check posts to ensure strict checking in various parts of the city”, he said. Police high-ups have also issued fresh directives to enhance security at all shopping centres and major markets. The authorities have also deployed Police and Rangers around all sensitive buildings including Parliament House, Presidency, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Supreme Court and Pak-Secretariat blocks, the official added.

He said that commandos of Islamabad Police, Lady Police, mobile patrols, Anti Terrorists Squad (ATS), Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), personnel of Quick Response Force have also been deputed at different locations to avert any untoward situation. Police officials in civil uniforms have also been assigned the task to keep a vigilant eye on some suspects.

The strength of police personnel deputed at the entry points of the city has also been increased to ensure strict checking. Meanwhile, Islamabad Police have arrested 19 protestors involved in ransacking, pelting stones at police, setting ablaze public and private properties and looting during protests on the occasion of Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool (PBUH) last Friday, a police official said. He said that police identified those violent protesters through CCTV footage. Earlier police arrested 62 protesters from the different parts of the city, he added.

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