ISLAMABAD: The acting chief commissioner Islamabad has written two separate letters to the top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) telling them that they have not informed the capital administration about their public rally on August 14.

Since the chief commissioner Islamabad is on leave, Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil has the acting charge.

The language of the letters seemed to be a political move to discredit the legality of the Azadi march being launched by the two parties.

The letters were written on Monday but the Islamabad administration has been preparing for the fortification of the city for almost a week.

An additional police force from AJK has already arrived in the city.

The letters stated that Section 144 had already been imposed in the federal capital and for its relaxation the party needed to interact with the ICT administration so that the very serious and fragile security situation should be thrashed out.

Acting chief commissioner says organisers have not yet informed administration about rally

“Needless to say ensuring and safeguarding public life and property is obligatory not only on the administration but also on all the responsible political parties and law abiding citizens of Pakistan.”

The letters said the ICT administration had come to know about the rally on Independence Day from an open source and the administration had even offered to facilitate the organisers of the rally if they obtained permission for relaxation of Section 144.

“Your party’s input is essential for the administration to ensure effective arrangements for the safety of the residents of the city and the participants of the rally,” the letters said.

“Furthermore, considering the expected inflow of participants of the rally into the city, it is imperative for the ICT administration to ensure timely arrangements for traffic and security of public and private property, peace and tranquilly of the citizens at large as well as the participants of any event.”

Meanwhile, the administration has also asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to keep its fire department and ambulances on high alert on August 13 and 14.

Sources in the district administration told Dawn that the services of a firm had been hired to install small security cameras at all major roads leading towards the city centre.

“The cameras are being installed over streetlights on Islamabad Expressway, Kashmir Road, Murree Road, Islamabad Highway and some other spots,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, because of the prevailing security situation the prime minister may not hoist the national flag on the largest pole on August 14 and in his place an official or a minister would perform the ceremony.

On the special directives of the prime minister, the CDA has prepared the 200-foot-high pole for which a ‘Pakistan Flag Monument Park’ is being established at H-8 sector. The civic body is set to receive the 60x40 feet large flag for the pole.

But so far no schedule of the flag hoisting ceremony has been forwarded to the CDA.

Published in Dawn, Aug 12th, 2014