ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: The special branch of capital police has alerted the local administration that political parties, especially Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), may hijack public protests against gas shortage, sources in the police told Dawn.

It also suggested to the authorities concerned to restrict the movements of VVIPs on Islamabad Expressway, especially during daytime and late in the evening, to avoid any untoward incident, said the sources.

The VVIPs should use helicopters to the airport and back, sources quoted the intelligence wing as having reported.

People get information about VVIP movement through deployment of security personnel at the expressway and Murree Road from Faizabad to Kashmir Chowk and ‘miscreants’ under the guise of protesters can disturb their movement, the special branch said.

The report also described the ‘miscreants’ as hardcore activists of political parties who were out to create law and order situation. Among them were also criminals who just wanted to loot valuables taking advantage of the protest.  It was also suggested to the police that intelligence and vigilance should be mounted in areas adjacent to the expressway to identify the miscreants so that they can be brought to justice.

The intelligence report also revealed that some political parties, especially PML-N, were mobilising the residents of Rawalpindi and areas close to the Islamabad Expressway, I.J. Principal Road and Tarnol for a series of protests against the government, added the sources.

“Majority of the people who participated in the protests on the expressway were not among those facing gas shortage,” the intelligence report claimed according to the sources.

It also said majority of the participants of the two latest protests were residents of Rawalpindi and they were brought to Islamabad Expressway by political parties.

Besides, the residents of Islamabad who also participated in the protests did not have gas supply for domestic use.

An officer of the capital city administration on the condition of anonymity told this reporter that steps had been taken to avoid such violent protests in future. He said most of the protesters were either political activists or criminals, adding directives to arrest such elements had also been issued. He said between Friday and Saturday, 108 troublemakers were put behind bars.

Talks are being held with the residents of Islamabad to take assurances from them that they will not stage protests because the areas where they live are yet to be provided gas, said the administration officer.

In case of a protest, they will remain peaceful and avoid joining the residents of Rawalpindi.