Zubair Qureshi
Islamabad Police and Pakistan Rangers on Sunday in a show of power conducted flag march with an objective to maintain peace and tranquility in the city.
Following the directions of Inspector General of Police Islamabad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan and DIG (Operations) Waqar Uddin Syed, the flag march was conducted under the supervision of SP (City) Muhammad Aamir Niazi, and was participated by all SDPOs and SHOs of City Zone, Islamabad Traffic Police, Police Commandos, Rescue 15 police and police patrolling officials and Pakistan Ranger.
Later, while visiting various points and interacting with the police performing security duty outside and around the Azadi March, Venue Inspector General of Police Islamabad Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan inspected the police preparations and boosted their moral.
“Islamabad police,” he said would accomplish responsibility in an efficient manner to ensure protection to lives and property of citizens
He further said that purpose of the flag march was to show preparations of police and other law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order, maintain peace and counter any challenge in the city.
Meanwhile, all the police stations of the federal capital have finalized preparations to meet any untoward situation. Islamabad has not witnessed violent street protests since the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) 2017 lockdown.
The police have also taken out the riot gear gifted by the United States from the storage since, officials said. The deadline set by the JUI-F for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation ended on Sunday and according to the JUI-F’s senior leaders, Azadi march will achieve its objectives come what may.
The officers said a massive anti-riot operation undertaken at the time by police from all four sides with the Anti-Riot Unit and Anti-Terrorism Squad failed.
At the request of the capital police, the administration has sought assistance from the interior ministry in the form of manpower and finance to deal with the Azadi March.
Police and administration officials said around 10,000 officials from the police in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Railways have been sought for the march. A contingent of Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary has also been requested.
Last week, the Central Police Office considered requesting personnel and the same amount of money sought during the 2014 PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek sit-in, but that demand was cut short because the KP and Punjab police also have to deal with marchers in their province.
The capital administration and police have asked their counterparts in KP and Punjab to intercept JUI-F leaders, activists and workers in their limits along with any possible participants at the district level.
