RAWALPINDI: Police launched a crackdown against Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) election camps established in different parts of the district and detained 32 of the party’s activists and workers. However, they were all released after assuring police that they will not set up the camps again.

In a related move, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police also removed election camps of TLP, established in different parts of the city on Sunday morning.

“Yes, the election camps of the TLP were removed from different parts of Islamabad early morning,” said a police official.

In Rawalpindi district, including Taxila and Gujar Khan, the TLP had set up at least seven election camps to facilitate their voters for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general election.

The government had imposed a ban on TLP when the party staged countrywide violent demonstrations demanding eviction of the French ambassador over blasphemous caricatures printed in a French magazine.

Strict security measures had been put in place by the police to maintain peace in Rawalpindi district, while Pakistan Rangers had been deployed in the federal capital to assist police during polls. Senior police officers on Sunday visited the polling stations and directed all officers and personnel to effectively implement the election code of conduct and rules.

As many as 97 polling stations had been set up in Rawalpindi for the AJK elections. More than 1,500 officers and personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order during the elections and enforce the code of conduct and implement complete ban on the display of weapons.

Meanwhile, a Punjab Police Constabulary personnel died while some others were injured when their bus plunged into a ravine while going to AJK, to assist the local police maintain peace during the election on Saturday night.

According to a police report, Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Jhang and presently posted at PC-4 Faisalabad died in the accident while some other PC personnel sustained minor injuries.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2021