Islamabad is witnessing one of its largest security preparations in recent months, with more than 22,000 security personnel set to be deployed in the federal capital as authorities prepare for possible long marches, rallies and protests in the coming days.
The security deployment will operate under a large command structure comprising eight DIGs, 10 SSPs, 40 SPs and 58 DSPs, according to the latest arrangements reported from the capital.
Alongside the deployment, the Islamabad administration and police have finalised accommodation arrangements for senior officers and officials arriving from outside the capital for law-and-order duties.
132 Rooms Booked Across 13 Hotels and Guest Houses
Under the accommodation plan, 362 police officers and officials will be housed in 132 rooms across 13 hotels and guest houses in Islamabad.
All eight DIGs are scheduled to stay at Islamabad Hotel in the Melody area of G-6, while accommodation for the 10 SSPs has been arranged at a hotel in Blue Area.
The 40 SPs will be accommodated at different hotels and guest houses across the capital. Meanwhile, 58 DSPs and 246 inspectors are expected to stay at various guest houses, including lower-cost accommodation compared with arrangements for senior officers.
Thousands of Personnel to Stay in Government Buildings
The much larger number of police and Frontier Constabulary personnel being called into Islamabad will not be accommodated in commercial hotels.
Authorities are arranging temporary accommodation for them in government buildings, schools and colleges, the Sports Complex, marriage halls and police stations.
The scale of these preparations reflects growing security activity across Islamabad and Rawalpindi ahead of several announced political and public demonstrations.
PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami and Kissan Ittehad Protest Plans
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced a march towards Islamabad on September 27, with the release of party founder Imran Khan among its stated demands.
Jamaat-e-Islami has separately launched a protest campaign and long march over the petroleum levy, while Kissan Ittehad has also announced plans to head towards Islamabad seeking relief for farmers.
These overlapping protest calls have prompted authorities to reinforce security arrangements across the twin cities.
Containers have also been positioned at different locations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with preparations underway to control access to sensitive areas if required.
Attock and Rawalpindi Security Also Reinforced
Security preparations extend beyond Islamabad.
More than 30,000 security personnel have reportedly been called for deployment in Attock, a strategically important district connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab. Additional forces from several Punjab districts, along with Punjab Constabulary and Riot Management Police personnel, have also been called in.
Rawalpindi police have separately requested around 9,000 additional personnel, while police leave in the district has been restricted until October 1 except in emergency cases.
The extensive deployment, hotel bookings and temporary accommodation arrangements show that authorities are preparing for a sustained law-and-order operation as Islamabad approaches a politically significant week.
A separate viral notification circulated earlier in September claiming that exactly 23,500 police personnel had been requisitioned from Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. That particular notification was declared fake by the Ministry of Information. The current figure of more than 22,000 personnel comes from separate, newer reporting published on September 21.