LAHORE: At least 5,000 policemen were deployed for the security of Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) public gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan here on Sunday.

Two days ago, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had urged the PDM to delay its rally over alleged terror threat alerts and the alarming coronavirus situation.

However, the city police took measures to provide security for the opposition’s gathering. The capital city police deployed nine superintendents of police, 23 sub-divisional police officers, 46 station house officers, Dolphin Force, and Police Response Units for patrolling.

The police and district administration had also set up a control room at the deputy commissioner’s office to monitor the PDM event. The police were also using drone cameras for the monitoring.

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan also visited the control room to check the security situation. She said the tall claims of the opposition had been exposed as, she claimed, only a small number of people gathered at Minar-i-Pakistan.

She said the government did not place any hurdle in the way of the opposition to avoid any confrontation and to expose the political strength of the PDM to the public.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2020