The Sindh government will deploy over 20,000 personnel of the law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the city to ensure foolproof security to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on her arrival on Thursday.
Highly placed sources in Sindh Home Department told Business Recorder that extraordinary security measures would be taken on the arrival of the PPP leader, who was returning to the country after seven years. In view of the security agencies reports apprehensions of a terrorist attack on Benazir Bhutto, security would remain at high alert in the city, particularly at the rally's route from airport to Bilawal House, they added.
Over 150 security checkpoints had been set up at 35 different points of the city to stall possibility of any untoward situation, they said. The provincial government had also installed about 100 vigilance cameras for closer look on the rally and keep the security measures at alert, said the sources.
The sources further said the government had also imposed a ban on the display of even licensed arms, and asked the citizens to strictly follow the instructions, while passage to the airport's terminal No 1 had been blocked by placing containers on the road.
The vehicles of Sindh Police and Pakistan Rangers would move along the PPP rally, besides patrolling the city throughout the day to keep a vigilant eye on suspected people. "A large number of law-enforcement personnel will be deployed to combat any disturbing situation," said Sindh Home Secretary Ghulam Muhammad Mohtram.
He said police personnel would remain deployed in main areas of the city and all the main buildings and other congested places, ie, airport, Mazar-e-Quaid, and Clifton to look for suspects. Other important places would also be under control of security personnel, Mohtram said.
"We targeted the areas of public interest and places where rally would be organised to mark the arrival of Benazir Bhutto", he said. "Security personnel were strictly instructed not to disturb the citizens of Karachi, who intend to join the rally", he added.
Rangers personnel would be placed on the high rise buildings along main arteries of the city and dozens of Rangers vehicles would patrol the routes of rallies. "We would too depute Ranger personnel in the city to combat any untoward situation," said Major Asad, spokesman of Pakistan Rangers.