With the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan leading an ‘Azadi March’ on the capital on Independence Day and railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique laying out a route for his ‘Azadi Train’ – frustration is starting to mount among government functionaries and law enforcement agencies.

Though Independence Day is still around three weeks away, Rawalpindi police have begun surveying the city and its exit/entry points to determine how many containers, barriers, roadblocks and other anti-riot equipment will be required to stop the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) long march from entering Islamabad come August 14, a senior police official told Dawn.

Even as the government considers different options to convince the PTI chairman to shelve his plans for a long march and try to settle things on the assembly floor, the police department is already flexing its muscles.

The department has begun to circulate paperwork and have requisitioned a number of additional personnel from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other districts to help maintain law and order in Pindi.

Following the diversion of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s flight and the melee that ensued as policemen tried to keep charged workers of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek from storming Islamabad airport on June 23, Pindi police have formed a special anti-riot squad, trained to cope with large mobs without firing a single bullet.

Well-built, strong policemen were chosen and specially trained at the Police Lines in Rawalpindi in mob-management.

They were also trained in the use of rubber bullets, made mandatory by the Punjab inspector general in all riot response situations.

The IG’s orders came after the Model Town Lahore tragedy in Lahore, where several people were killed and the provincial government was accused of deliberately firing on innocent people.

The official Dawn spoke to said district police had two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and a sufficient stock of tear-gas shells, rubber bullets, batons and other riot gear. However, Rawalpindi police did not have a water cannon, used to disperse protesters the world over. But a request has already been made to the provincial government to procure one.

A survey of exit and entry points of the twin cities was also undertaken to identify spots where closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) would be installed.

It has hardly been a month since the melee on Tahirul Qadri’s arrival, but it seems the capital must brace for another similar encounter, to take place on August 13 and 14. But this time, police will certainly have a different strategy.

When asked about the upcoming PTI event, Regional Police Officer Akhtar Omer Hayat Laleka did not give a straight answer. “Independence Day is still a long way away. It would be too early to say something about the PTI’s Azadi March. However, training and refresher courses are being imparted to policemen from the twin cities regularly,” he said.

Even intelligence agencies have been tasked with obtaining reports on preparations for the ‘Azadi March’, as well as details on other opposition parties who arte planning to join the demonstration.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2014