With the government partially sealing the federal capital on Saturday to fail the planned long march by Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, the Punjab government has refused to accept the Centre’s request to put Qadri and his close aides under house arrest.
The federal government had suggested the Punjab government put Qadri under house arrest, but the provincial government rejected the request fearing public backlash.
Besides sealing the federal capital, particularly the Red Zone, the Islamabad police has also booked TMQ Islamabad chapter’s president and dozens of other activists.
Margalla police registered an FIR for violation of Section 144, saying TMQ Islamabad President Abrar advocate and other activists illegally set up a party camp where a number of activists gathered and used loud speaker, violating Section 144. Police said raids were being conducted to arrest other TMQ activists.
The Islamabad police also completely sealed the Red Zone by placing shipping containers on Embassy Road and at other avenues that lead to the Red Zone.
Containers were also being placed at all entry points of the capital and police said police personnel would be deployed at all these points on Sunday morning.
“We are following a wait and watch policy and vital decision would be taken per the situation. We have no clear instruction so far whether to stop the marchers at the entry points of the city or let them enter the capital. However, we have completed our preparations to receive the participants of the long march,” a senior police official said.
He said more than 15,000 police personnel from ICT and other provinces, FC and Rangers would perform security duty in the capital.
MALIK TERRORISM:
On the other hand, Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday again said he had credible information that terrorists could attack Dr Qadri’s march.
Presiding over a high-level meeting to review security arrangements for the march, the minister said he had credible information of possible attacks on the rally and he was ready to present the details at any forum, including the Supreme Court.
The meeting was attended by provincial home secretaries, inspectors general of police, senior officials of Rangers, FC and intelligence agencies.
It was decided that no vehicle would be allowed to participate in the long march without security clearance and drivers would be required to produce national identity cards and documents of their vehicles on demand.
The meeting also directed the TMQ to furnish the details of drivers and marchers with the district administrations.