The postponement of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) planned protest in Islamabad is expected to significantly increase the cost of security arrangements, with police sources estimating that the total expenditure could exceed Rs1 billion.
The capital police had initially requested Rs820 million to cover expenses related to containers, accommodation, food and transportation for additional police personnel deployed ahead of the planned protest. The amount was calculated for approximately one week of security arrangements.
PTI had initially announced a countrywide protest and long march beginning on September 27. Following the announcement, Islamabad Police began preparations and sought additional personnel from Punjab and Sindh. The security plan included 16,000 personnel from Punjab and 2,000 from Sindh.
According to police sources, 1,550 containers were arranged for security purposes. Container owners initially demanded daily rents of Rs40,000 for 40-foot containers and Rs20,000 for 20-foot containers. The demand was later revised to Rs30,000 per container per day.
At the revised rate, the daily rental cost for 1,550 containers stands at Rs46.5 million. This amounts to Rs325.5 million for one week and Rs651 million for two weeks.
Following the postponement of the protest, authorities have yet to decide whether the containers will be released or retained for security purposes.
The capital police had requested 16,000 personnel from Punjab and 2,000 from Sindh. The Sindh Police contingent has already arrived in Islamabad and is being accommodated at various locations, including marquees at Police Lines Headquarters, Faisal Mosque and Community Centre G-13.
Three meals a day are being provided to the visiting personnel. For the 2,000 Sindh Police officials, the reported daily food expenditure is around Rs1.2 million, amounting to Rs8.4 million for one week and Rs16.8 million for two weeks.
The 16,000-member Punjab Police contingent had been expected to reach Islamabad ahead of the original deployment schedule, but had not arrived by the evening of September 25, according to the sources. Earlier security plans had also included additional anti-riot equipment and personnel from both provinces.
Authorities arranged around 70 coasters, 30 double-cabin vehicles and buses to transport police personnel between their accommodation and duty locations.
The reported daily rental cost for 70 coasters is Rs1.05 million, while 30 double-cabin vehicles cost another Rs300,000 per day.
Police also booked 175 rooms in 13 hotels for senior officers and other personnel. Of these, 157 rooms in 11 hotels were booked for officers from inspector to superintendent of police level, with a reported daily rental cost of Rs754,500.
The estimated food bill for the proposed Punjab Police contingent stands at Rs9.6 million per day, or Rs67.2 million for one week.
Meanwhile, All Pakistan Goods Alliance Chairman Nisar Hussain Jaffri said police in Islamabad and Punjab had taken around 2,700 container vehicles and their three-member crews into custody.
According to Jaffri, around 400 vehicles and their crews were still unaccounted for, while the crews of the remaining vehicles were being kept at police stations. He said the drivers and crew members had not been formally arrested but were restricted from leaving the police stations except for meals.
He also claimed that their mobile phones, vehicle documents and keys had been confiscated.
The vehicles and containers were reportedly taken into custody at several locations, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jhang, Hasanabdal, Attock, Kamoke, Taxila, Jhelum, Mianwali, Chakwal, Faisalabad and Gujrat.
Of the approximately 2,700 vehicles, around 450 were reportedly carrying goods, including medicines, food products and chemicals.
The authorities have yet to decide whether the containers will be released following the postponement of the PTI protest or retained as part of the security arrangements.
