ISLAMABAD: In the wake of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) proposed sit-in in the federal capital from May 25 (today), the capital administration has put all the hospitals on high alert. Hospitals will remain on high alert till the culmination of the sit-in or normalisation of the situation.

Dr Waseem Khuwaja, who has served at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) while talking to Dawn, said that it was the standard operating procedure of hospitals that they were put on high alert.

“It is a routine matter that hospitals are put on high alert on such occasions to deal with any untoward situation such as terrorist activity, accident or clash between workers of different political parties or with law enforcement agencies,” he said.

“Leaves of staff are cancelled to ensure availability of workers in case of emergency. Specialists are instructed to ensure their presence in the hospitals and, in case of any emergency, they shall take round of wards twice a day in the morning and evening,” Dr Khuwaja said.

“During such occasions 25 beds are kept vacant at Pims all the time. Blood bank is instructed to ensure availability of blood. At least 50 bags of O Negative Blood are ensured to be available because in case of emergency it becomes difficult to arrange O Negative Blood. Moreover stock of medicine in emergency department is doubled,” he said. Media coordinator Polyclinic Dr Jabbar Bhutto said that staff has been directed not to leave the station as they can be called anytime.

Pindi policemen’s leaves cancelled

Leaves of police officials have been cancelled due to the security situation and upcoming PTI’s ‘Azadi March’ to be held on Wednesday, while the City Traffic police have chalked out an alternative traffic plan for commuters.

In a bid to prevent PTI processions from proceeding towards Islamabad, G.T. Road near Taxila and Wah Cantt had virtually been blocked with heavy shipping containers and barbed wires, while the entry and exit points of Rawalpindi district will be closed after midnight.

A directive issued by the City Police Officer to all SPs, SDPOs, Muharrar Security division and in-charge of Elite Force said that leaves of all the police officers and officials have been cancelled and those who had been on leave will be called back to their duty due to prevailing security situation.

“All those police officials who had been on leave should be called back to their duty place,” the CPO said in the directive.

The City Traffic Police have chalked out a plan with deployment of 462 personnel to facilitate the public during PTI’s plan to hold an ‘Azadi March’ on Islamabad on May 25 (tomorrow).

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Naveed Irshad said in a statement that more than 462 personnel would be deployed for the convenience of the citizens during the PTI march.

Additional personnel have been deployed on all major highways including Peshawar Road, Mall Road and Murree Road. Traffic will be diverted to alternative routes.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2022