The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and police have geared up preparations to effectively deal with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Azadi March and lockdown on October 31 and has demanded funds for vehicles and heavy machinery.

What appears to be an over reaction, the ICT administration has closed D-Chowk for traffic and placed shipping containers there while imposing section 144 in the capital more than a month before the scheduled 'Azadi March'; and summoned 20,000 additional security personnel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Punjab to boost security and avoid any untoward incident.

A police officer told this correspondent that city police have started anti-riot training at police training school. More than 3000 police personnel of different ranks equipped with anti riot gears including anti-riot shields, helmets, batons and non lethal weapons are participating in the training on a daily basis, they said, adding that the main objective of the training is to train police how to stop protesters and save themselves. The training will continue till Azadi March, he said.

He said that following the announcement by JUI-F chief Fazl-e-Rehman that his party will stage an Azadi March followed by dharna, the ICT administration and police began to chalk out a strategy to deal with the protesters.

The official said that leaves of police officials have been cancelled and those on leave have been asked to report back on duty. The special branch of police has also prepared a list of senior JUI-F workers who may be arrested ahead of the proposed JUI-F's protest plan.

The JUI-F also submitted an application to the chief commissioner's office seeking permission to allow JUI-F to hold a rally at D-Chowk against the government. The JUI has also sought security arrangements for the participants of the rally.

The administration has approached Ministry of Interior for a final decision on the application, a senior official of district administration said. He said that the administration will approach the JUI-F for details of participants, including their numbers, and the route of the march. The administration will also seek information on the timeframe of arrival and departure from the applicant.

He said that surety will also be sought from JUI-F leaders not to enter the Red Zone, or create hurdles for residents of the city or create any law and order situation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019