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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Islamabad’s Red Zone to be Secured at Three Locations By ‘See-Through’ Gates

To prevent anyone traveling to the capital under the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from entering the Red Zone, city administrators are putting “see-through” entry gates in three key locations.

Near the Serena Hotel, Nadra Chowk, and D-Chowk, three gates would be constructed. On regular days, the gates will stay open, but anytime demonstrators or marches attempt to enter the Red Zone, the authorities will close the gates. An official of the Capital Development Authority stated, “This program is not only intended to confront the PTI marchers but also to help cope with similar protests in the future” (CDA).

According to sources, the top brass of the capital police, the chief commissioner, retired Capt. Mohammad Usman, the chairman of the CDA, and other relevant officials met to discuss the security measures at the Red Zone a few days ago. Three gates would be put in to prevent demonstrators from entering the Red Zone, it was decided at the meeting. The gates’ design work has been finished, and formal construction work will begin soon as the tendering process is over, according to CDA sources.

According to them, the gates at Nadra Chowk and Serena Hotel would each be 105 feet wide, while the gate at D-Chowk will be 90 feet wide. A CDA engineer estimated that it would take one month to finish the project once work on the gates got underway. He stated that the final cost estimate was still being determined, but another official believed that the project would cost approximately Rs. 40 million, depending on the extent of the work. Imran Khan, the chairman of the PTI, has been certain for the past few months that he will at any time issue a call to PTI members to march against the current administration in Islamabad.

According to sources, the police and local government were preparing to use drones to spray tear gas shells on demonstrators during the anticipated PTI-long march. For the PTI’s extended march and sit-in, Islamabad police recently requested 30,000 police officers from the provinces and paramilitary forces. Three gates would be built to defend Red Zone, a top CDA official confirmed to Dawn after being approached. He added that this move would stop future protests in addition to the PTI demonstrators that were anticipated.

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