ISLAMABAD: Islamabad administration has deployed heavy security personnel including police, Rangers and Frontier Corps at Faizabad after Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) announced to protest against the publication of blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in France.
As per details, the TLP rally in Rawalpindi, which attracted up to 5,000 people on Sunday, continued today, with around a thousand protesters gathered at the roadblock preventing them from entering the capital.
A notification, dated November 15, issued by the office of Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) detailed security arrangements in the capital to prevent violent incidents from taking place.
“It is expected that participants in the rally could go violent and proceed towards the French embassy by breaking their promises with the district administration,” the notification read.
Senior officers of Islamabad’s administration had approached TLP leaders yesterday after they sought security cover for Sunday’s protest rally.
The protesters are demanding the government to recall Pakistan’s ambassador from France and expel the French ambassador in Islamabad.
The officers had tried to convince TLP leaders and organizers of the rally to call it off due to the prevailing virus situation, said sources, adding: “Covid-19 is spreading all over the country, including Islamabad.”
In the notification issued by SSP Operations, security officials have been directed to ensure the security of citizens, key government installations, maintenance of public order and dismantling terror attacks.
Mobile signals remained suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the third day and roads leading to Faizabad Interchange as well as entry points of Islamabad were blocked by placing containers.
Police had to resort to teargas shelling against the stone-pelting protesters who had gathered on the call of TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi to denounce the publication of blasphemous caricatures and remarks about Islam and terrorism by French President Emmanuel Macron.
During the clashes, dozens of police personnel, including senior police officials, and several TLP members were injured.
Meanwhile, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) led by chief Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, has announced to continue a sit-in in Faizabad until the expulsion of the French ambassador from the country.
