The Federal Capital turned into almost no mans land on Sunday as the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) completely sealed the city to block the entry of the long march participants from reaching here on Monday. The government suffered a setback on Sunday when the PML (N) ignored the talks offer on judiciary restoration issue.
The offer was made on Saturday, primarily aimed at creating a rift between the PML (N) and the lawyers community. Several thousand workers of PML (N), Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, and other components of the All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM) sneaked into the twin cities. So, the government has already failed to block the long march from entering Islamabad, sources told Business Recorder.
Heavy contingents of capital police, Pakistan Rangers, and Sarhad and Sindh police have been deployed at all entry points of Islamabad. Sources said that the government has gone on back foot on some of strict measures ordered by the interior ministry a day earlier for handling the long march.
Sources in LEAs said that as per earlier orders the protestors had to be stopped or handled within the cities they were originating from. However, larger than expected presence of people in the rally forced the government to rethink its whole strategy. If this huge number was able to enter Islamabad, the whole security plan could be sabotaged, according to sources. The situation seemed to be going out of government control, they said.
The capital police have placed heavy metal containers and concrete blocks at all entry and exit points of the city. The LEAs placed heavy metal containers and concrete blocks at Faizabad, Islamabad Expressway, Kashmir highway, 9th Avenue, Bara Kahu, I.J Principal Road and streets connecting the city and the main roads. All roads leading to Islamabad from Peshawar, Kohat, Hazara, Murree, Lahore and other cities have been blocked.
The LEAs have sealed the red zone by placing containers and not only banned the entry of ordinary people, but also media persons were not allowed in the red zone. The authorities have also placed barbed wire and additional concrete blocks on different roads.
Reserve contingents of police and rangers were deployed at Aabpara Market, Melody, Islamabad Express and Murree road to avert the expected protest in the areas. However, civil society staged a peaceful protest at Aabpara Chowk.
Heavy contingents of Rangers, capital police were deployed around the red zone and at all sensitive buildings including Parliament House, Presidency, Prime Minister Secretariat, Supreme Court and Secretariat. Rangers and Islamabad police were jointly patrolling the city and had erected additional pickets at all the routes leading to the red zone.
Due to nonavailibity of public transport commuters and a number of people were observed going on foot towards their destination. Most of the markets and petrol stations remained closed in the city. Similarly, all hospital including Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Federal Government Services Hospital, CDA hospital and private hospitals, fire brigade, Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) have been put on high alert to cope with any untoward incident during lawyers long march.
The city administration has strictly directed PIMS, FG Services Hospital and Capital Hospital to ensure availability of staff round the clock. District Health Officer, ICT, has been nominated as a focal person for necessary co-ordination in this regard.
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