Authorities have placed the federal capital on red alert, deploying heavy police contingents across the city and ordering the arrest of anyone found violating Section 144, sources said on Sunday.
According to sources, heavy police contingents have been deployed at major intersections across Islamabad, while all superintendents of police (SPs), deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and station house officers (SHOs) have been directed to remain in the field.
Police have been instructed to take immediate action if banners are displayed or crowds gather at any location in the capital.
Additional police personnel have also been deployed at the city’s entry and exit points. Authorities have restricted the entry of unauthorised individuals into the Red Zone as part of the heightened security measures.
Meanwhile, Rangers personnel have been deployed at sensitive government buildings to strengthen security and prevent any untoward incident.
The measures follow the reported imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, amid heightened political tensions.
Authorities have directed law enforcement personnel to maintain vigilance and ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed in the federal capital.
Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari decided to impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 232 of the Constitution amid rising incidents of terrorism and a deteriorating law and order situation, according to a statement issued by the President’s House.
The statement said the decision was taken in view of the worsening security situation and increasing incidents of terrorism in the province.
On the other hand, security has been tightened outside the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, with a large contingent of Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and police deployed in the area.
According to a report at the scene, additional personnel from Islamabad Police, along with police forces from other provinces, have been called in and stationed outside the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
The deployment includes senior police officials and personnel from different regions, including Kashmir. Several police vehicles and other security vehicles have also been brought to the area.
The report said the security presence had increased suddenly over the past hour. Earlier, the number of police personnel at the site was considerably lower.
The heightened security comes as a federal cabinet meeting is underway. The reasons for the additional deployment have not yet been officially confirmed.
Security has also been strengthened across D-Chowk and the wider Red Zone, where Islamabad Police, personnel from other provincial police forces and representatives of law enforcement agencies are present.
A high-level cabinet committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has begun to review the security and governance situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, amid concerns over rising terrorist attacks and gaps in the provincial government’s counterterrorism measures.
