Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has placed district police on alert amid the possibility of an emergency being imposed in the province by the federal government.
The police chief issued instructions on Saturday, directing officers to prepare for potential violent protests and sabotage attempts. He also stressed that officers must exercise restraint and use force only when necessary to maintain law and order.
The guidelines warn that troublemakers and anti-state elements could exploit demonstrations to trigger violence and damage public property. District police officers, sub-divisional police officers and station house officers have been instructed to personally supervise protests within their jurisdictions.
Police Prepare Security Arrangements For Protests
Under the instructions, police must deploy sufficient personnel, anti-riot squads and plainclothes officers to identify violent protesters and potential saboteurs. Authorities have also been directed to ensure that anti-riot equipment and tear-gas supplies are available and properly checked.
Police officers must identify vulnerable locations along protest routes, including government buildings, police stations, petrol pumps, banks, shopping centres, major roads and other sensitive installations. District police chiefs may also require organisers to obtain permits for demonstrations when a breach of peace is considered likely.
Furthermore, officers can regulate public places and traffic or order unlawful gatherings to disperse under applicable laws. Police stations have been instructed to record protests on video and coordinate with district administrations and other law-enforcement agencies.
IGP Directs Officers To Exercise Restraint
The guidelines emphasise that officers should negotiate with protesters and encourage peaceful dispersal before considering force. During peaceful demonstrations and roadblocks, police must show maximum restraint and avoid unnecessary confrontation.
If violence creates an immediate threat to life or property, senior officers may authorise the minimum force required under the law. The instructions outline a gradual response, beginning with warnings and potentially progressing to tear gas or other legally permitted crowd-control measures.
In cases of extreme violence, additional measures may be considered under the specified conditions and with authorisation from the senior-most officer present. The police chief stressed that officers must prioritise public safety while protecting lives and property.
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