Over 22,000 security personnel to be deployed in Islamabad amid protest calls
RAWALPINDI: Preparations in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory to maintain security and deal with any emergency situation are in full swing in the light of the potential long march by the PTI and protest rallies by other opposition political parties to Islamabad.
More than 22,000 security personnel led by eight DIGs will be deployed in the federal capital and over 30,000 in the Attock district, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab.
In Attock, additional personnel to assist the local police have started arriving and reporting to the District Police Officer (DPO).
The Rawalpindi police have requested for 9,000 personnel to assist the local police to ensure security during protests, a police official told Dawn.
Containers being seized in twin cities and placed on sides of highways and open spaces
On the other hand, a large number of containers are being seized to block the entry points to prevent possible protests and rallies to reach the twin cities as 30 entry points will be blocked, including 11 in Rawalpindi.
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Kissan Ittehad and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have announced long marches and sit-in protests in Islamabad in the coming week.
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has called for a long march towards Islamabad against the levy on petroleum products, while PTI has announced a long march on September 27 for the release of its founder Imran Khan.
Kissan Ittehad is seeking relief for farmers and has also announced a protest march to Islamabad.
A large number of containers have already been seized in the twin cities and are being placed on the sides of highways and open spaces.
While additional police force has been called from the districts of Rawalpindi division, sources revealed that more than 22,000 forces have been called for Islamabad to deal with the marches. The personnel will be deployed under the supervision of eight DIGs, 10 SSPs and 40 SPs and 58 DSPs for whom separate accommodation arrangements have also been made.
According to sources, a total of 30,000 security personnel have been called to ensure security in Attock, the most important district connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab. For this purpose, additional forces from various districts of Punjab, including Sheikhupura, DG Khan, Multan, Faisalabad, along with the Punjab Constabulary, Riot Management Police and other units have been called in Attock.
All kinds of leaves of police in Rawalpindi district have already been banned till October 1.
Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera, CPO Rawalpindi, issued an order to the police that all kinds of leaves, casual and earned, had been banned till October 1 except for cases of extreme emergency.
The Islamabad district administration and police have made accommodation arrangements for the out of district police officers called for law and order duty.
According to the plan, as many as 362 police officers and officials will be provided 132 rooms, allocated in 13 hotels and guest houses in the federal capital territory.
All the eight DIGs will be provided accommodation in Islamabad Hotel (Melody G-6), 10 SSPs will be accommodated in a hotel at Blue Area, while 40 superintendents of police will be accommodated in different hotels and guest houses.
Likewise, 58 DSPs and 246 inspectors will be provided accommodations in different guest houses having low rent compared to the accommodation provided to police high ups.
Moreover, arrangements for accommodation of the police and FC personnel called from other provinces to Islamabad are being made in government buildings, schools/colleges, Sports Complex, marriage halls and police stations.
Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026
