Freedom allowed with restrictions: Security steps for presidential polls
ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: People will be allowed free access to the Constitution Avenue on the occasion of the presidential election on Saturday but any attempt to protest the election would invite action under Section 144, local administration said on Friday.
“We have requested the lawyers’ community, the opposition parties and journalists to be peaceful and not to create any disturbance during the election. We hope they would cooperate with us,” Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner Hamid Ali Khan told Dawn.
His administration had discussed “a code of conduct” with the local opposition leaders and the lawyers who assured to honour the code, he said.
However, according to police sources, the law enforcement agencies expect protests by the opposition parties on the occasion.
Police have instructions to arrest people who try to enter the Constitution Avenue “in groups”, said the sources.
Though there would be no barbedwires and no road blockades, he said people would be allowed onto the avenue only after body search and vehicle checks.
Snipers would be positioned on the rooftops of the buildings in the vicinity of the Parliament House but the rest of the security forces deployed in the area would be invisible – unless any trouble breaks out.
Walk-though gates would also be installed at D-Chowk and near Supreme Court building to screen people who will proceed to the Parliament House.
Security sources said heavy contingent of police would be deployed around Parliament House with Armed Personnel Carriers (APCs).
Source: Dawn
Date:10/6/2007
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