Twin cities prepare strategy to counter PTI’s Sept 27 protest

ISLAMABAD: The administrations of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have started preparations to counter the PTI’s announced countrywide protest, including a request for detention of activists, arranging containers, seeking additional personnel and procuring anti-riot gear. The Islamabad police are also collecting information related to the protest, including preparations by the political party and activities of its leaders, workers and activists. Sources in the police said contractors who provide and arrange containers for the police had been alerted, and a demand for over 1,000 containers had been made. The contractors were asked to arrange containers of different sizes, which would be used to seal the Red Zone, High Security Zone and the capital’s entry and exit points.

The containers would also be used to seal the main avenues and highways of the capital to intercept the movement of protesters during the demonstration and block the entry of protesters coming to Islamabad from other parts of the country. Rawalpindi administration issues detention orders for 30 PTI activists while capital police seek 1,000 containers The police’s demand for containers is very high across the country due to the announced protest. Besides the capital police, the provincial police forces of Punjab and Sindh are also making similar demands, resulting in a shortage of containers for the contractors. The contractors were asked to arrange the maximum number of containers. In case of a shortage, the police will arrange the containers independently. Over 100 containers have been arranged for the capital and placed along roadsides at different locations, including the ITP headquarters, Faizabad, Tarnol and Sangjani. A security plan is also being prepared to assess the number of…