ISLAMABAD - Feeling the heat ahead of long march announced by Tahirul Qadri, Islamabad district authorities Tuesday began sealing sensitive installations including government building, diplomatic enclave and prominent hotels.Following a meeting of the Interior Ministry officials and district management, the decision was taken to seal off the sensitive areas of the capital. According to officials, they intend to seal the red zone where the Parliament House, Prime Minister Secretariat, Presidency, Supreme Court, Diplomatic Enclave and hotels are located. Containers put at D-Chowk, blocking roads leading to the Parliament House. Police commandoes have been deployed to guard red zone and the Diplomatic Enclave."It is true that we intend to block the roads leading to important buildings just to ensure safety of locals and all those working in here. Besides putting containers at important junctions, we have also beefed up security before the start of long march," a senior official of the Islamabad District management told TheNation.The Tehreek Minhajul Quran announced that the long march will reach Islamabad on 14 January. Islamabad Capital territory police are also aware of the sensitivity of the situation and resolved to provide security to the people. "We are ready to guard life and property of locals as we did in the past. We are fully prepared to tackle the situation if marcherswill try to take law into hands," Mohammad Naeem, spokesperson for Islamabad police said.There is a wave of concern circulating among the locals who fear the marchers may generate numerous problems for them by disrupting law and order, creating a dearth of fuel, grocery and other commodities."These so-called peaceful gatherings had been resulted into loss of lives and property. I fearthat something unfortunate is going to happen again," Mumtaz Ahmed, an assistant professor said. And he was not alone who has such apprehensions as the majority of Islamabad people are feeling the same. They want the march to be held outside the city.An Islamabad traffic police official said the ITP were preparing an alternative traffic plan for public and private vehicles in a bid to give them relief during long march.On September 20 last year, thousands of protesters clashed with police while protesting against an anti-Islam film. Police had to fire tear gas and bullets when demonstrators tried to entered diplomatic enclave. The army was called to protect the enclave after protesters broke through a barrier of containers. Memories of the mayhem have not faded from the minds of locals and they have asked the government to divert the marchers to some other place.

Trending Discussions

Worst power outages as shortfall crosses 7,000MW

Musharraf can be tried in special court: SC

Chinese PM assures Nawaz of transferring civil nuclear ...

‘Iron brothers’ link arms