Police pleads procedure, opposition cries foul
Hotels, high rise buildings, petrol pumps, houses, apartment buildings, shops and any other walled structures in Rawalpindi within the precincts of the path of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s GT road rally remained closed and shut down as the former Premier made his way to his home city.
According to the Rawalpindi Police, speaking to Pakistan Today, the closure was only regular procedure and no special favours had been pulled for the former Prime Minister. However opposition parties, with the PTI in the forefront, vehemently opposed the move saying Mian Nawaz was still using official protocol despite his newfound civilian status.
The ousted Sharif made his way back to his family home in grand fashion in a cavalcade surrounded by his cohorts and welcomed at every stop with banners, streamers and other symbols of support. The security for the occasion was stringent with more than 4000 police officials being appointed on duty for the rally.
As part of the security arrangements, all four-walled structures and petrol pumps in the vicinity of the politically motivated procession were shut down with no business being conducted. According to documents, signed by Station House Officers of the relevant areas, made available to Pakistan Today, home owners and land lords were also instructed not to allow anyone on the rooftops of their homes or apartment buildings. More importantly, the notices also held that in case of any mischief, the relevant building owners or occupants would be held liable for any misrepresentation to any persons or the utilization of the buildings for nefarious purposes.
The notices, coming from multiple police precincts including New Town, and Civil lines, have taken undertakings form the building owners that they will allow no mischief. They also order shop owners and petrol pumps to suspend their commercial activities for the span of the rally.
Meanwhile, leaders of opposition party PTI condemned the move as an undue use of public funds that Nawaz Sharif has no claim to after his disqualification. Many, including local residents, were angry about the closing down of businesses, saying that shop owners lived day to day.
On the other hand, CPO Rawalpindi, Israr Abbasi, speaking to Pakistan Today said that this was nothing new and was only part of regular procedure.
“No this is how we deal with all rallies. There is nothing new about this, it is only basic police procedure. Any reservations made by people are baseless. This is the same security Imran Khan got on his dahrnas.”
When asked if there was any special favours pulled for the former PM, the CPO seemed a little flustered, saying at first that it was all procedure but because of special circumstances some things had been done more than usual. However soon after, the CPO denied any such claims citing a communication error.