Twin cities remain tense, Rangers take control of area

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Twin cities remained tense on Sunday after attempts to disperse religious parties’ protests by activists ended in deadly violence as Pakistan Rangers took control of the sit-in area at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad.

Hundreds of demonstrators were still occupying roads and intersections connecting Islamabad with neighboring Rawalpindi, with protesters posting videos.

The protestors at the moment are gathered at the sit-in site and listening to the speeches of their leaders. There is no traffic movement in the area of I-8 and Faizabad.

Peaceful conditions prevail in Islamabad and Rawalpindi following yesterday’s operation against protestors who have blocked Faizabad Intersection for the last three weeks.

The operation was carried out under the direction of Islamabad High Court which gave deadline to the Government to get the area vacated from protestors.

On the other hand, Pakistan Rangers took control of the sit-in area at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad on Sunday morning.

Police and the Frontier Corps have been deployed at I-8 Markaz. Rangers have cordoned off the IJP Road, Expressway, Murree Road and the Faisal Avenue.

After the early morning clashes, the area settled into an uneasy stand-off. The paramilitary Rangers force – which had held back from Saturday’s confrontation – was in charge of Sunday’s operations, officers said.

“We still don’t have orders to launch an operation. We will act as the government orders us,” said Rangers commander at the scene Colonel Bilal, who gave only one name. “We have surrounded the protesters from all sides. We can move in when the government orders us.”

No decision of further action taken in meeting chaired by Interior Minister

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal is yet to take any decision for further action with regard to operation against Faizabad sit-in and countrywide protests occurring in reaction.

The Federal Minister for Interior chaired a high-level meeting in the presence of Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Inspector General (IG), SSP and Deputy Com-missioner, Top security officers from police as well as senior officials of Rawalpindi and Islamabad administrations were present in the discussion.

Rawalpindi administration, police officials and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah also joined the meeting through video conference.

Earlier, Chief Commissioner, IG and other officials had also discussed the situation with Rangers in Islamabad.