ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Islamabad Police on Friday suspended all leave of officers and personnel ahead of a planned protest march towards the federal capital by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
According to a circular issued by the Office of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, all types of leave, i.e., casual, earned, and ex-Pakistan, except emergency leave, have been banned, with immediate effect until October 5.
“All the officers/officials currently on casual and earned leave may be directed to report to their respective place of posting immediately,” the circular added.
On the other hand, police officials further said that the purpose of the holiday ban is to ensure effective security arrangements and availability of police personnel during protests in Islamabad.
Earlier today, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that contempt of court action would be taken against anyone violating the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march planned for September 27.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Naqvi said there would be no permission to block roads or carry out attacks in the capital in the name of political protest.
The IHC earlier ruled that no political party has the lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or buildings, in its detailed verdict on a petition against PTI long march to Islamabad.
The verdict was issued by an IHC larger bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif on Friday.
“If you want to protest, do it in your area. We will not allow you to storm Islamabad,” Naqvi said, adding that the preparations have been completed to deal with any situation arising from the proposed gathering.
“We are telling you in advance so that there is no misunderstanding and no one complains later,” Naqvi said. “The personnel will not sit quietly if they shoot at them. Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to stop the long march by all possible means.”
