September 29, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 16, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: The federal capital will see another day of restrictions when the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) carries out scrutiny of nomination papers of President Gen Pervez Musharraf as well as other candidates vying for the top office, sources told Dawn.

The Election Commission and its surrounding areas have been sealed by the law enforcement agencies to prevent entry of public and politicians on the occasion of scrutiny of nomination papers on Saturday.

Barbed wires have been laid down around the Election Commission building to prevent entry of gatherings of unconcerned people, including leaders, workers, and activists of opposition parties and lawyers, the sources said.

They said three walk-through gates had been installed around the Election Commission building to regulate and search people. Such gates are also likely to be installed at entry points to the Constitution Avenue, Bank Road and Parade Ground.

Likewise, personnel of law enforcement agencies will also conduct body search of people with metal detectors.

Only the staff of Election Commission, candidates of presidential elections along with their proposers and seconders will be allowed to go inside the office.

Snipers will also be deployed on the rooftop of buildings adjacent to the Election Commission office.

More than 1,000 personnel of Rangers, Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary and Islamabad police will take part in the security arrangements on the occasion.

Barricades and barbed wires have been laid down at both ends of Constitution Avenue, Parade Ground and Bank Road near Parliament Lodges to regulate and check the entry of people into the area.

In case of any law and order situation or during VVIP movement, Constitution Avenue from Radio Pakistan to D Chowk would be closed, the sources said, who added that strict action would be taken against those who try to disrupt peace on the occasion.

Security at Constitution Avenue will be tightened as Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and some federal ministers would visit the ECP office to witness the course of scrutiny of nomination papers.

It may be mentioned here that the chief justice of Pakistan had taken suo motu notice of the local administration’s move to put the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad under virtual siege on the day of submission of nomination papers on September 27.

The administration officials had to tender apology to the court with an assurance that no such measure would be taken in future in the name of maintaining law and order.

When contacted, senior officers of Islamabad administration and police said security measures had been adopted to avoid any untoward incident, including suicide attacks on government installations during protests by public and politicians.

They claimed that the police and local administration had received intelligence reports that terrorists might strike in the capital, and target sensitive government installations, foreign missions and officials of law enforcement agencies.

According to sources, media would once again not be allowed to enter the ECP building expect for a few reporters from the official media who had been issued special passes by the information ministry.

A senior government official said there would be invisible security at important places in the city and at all entry points to the capital.

The official said entry of mediapersons, lawyers and political party activists to the ECP building would not be allowed because the hall where the chief election commissioner (CEC) would carry out scrutiny had 120 seats while the number of candidates, their proposers and seconders was over 140.

“The hall will remain jampacked and there would be no place there for mediapersons, lawyers and activists of political parties,” he said.

Most of the schools had already announced that they would remain closed on Friday and Saturday to save students and their parents from any inconvenience.

Meanwhile, the lawyers’ community has demanded of CEC Qazi Mohammad Farooq to conduct scrutiny in front of independent media so that people could know what objections were raised against the candidates, including President Musharraf, and what would be the response of the ECP towards them.