Jashn-e-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ today

KARACHI: In order to avoid any untoward incident, as many as 1,500 officials of security forces in collaboration with over 5,000 volunteers of the Awami National Party (ANP) have been assigned for the security of ANP’s ‘Jashn-e-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’, which will be held today (Sunday), police officials and ANP leaders informed Daily Times on Saturday.
These security measures have been taken in light of targeted killings, bomb blasts and suicide attacks, which claimed many precious lives in the past.
ANP’s Jashn-e-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is being organised at the main Sea View, Clifton, which will start at 3pm and continue till midnight to celebrate the renaming of NWFP with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Besides, cultural dances, Pukhtoon’s party song and fireworks, leaders would address the celebration.
ANP Sindh leader Shahi Syed would be the main speaker of the event. Although ANP central chief Asfandyar Wali Khan’s presence is also included in the schedule, he might not attend the event due to security concerns.
A musical programme will also be held in which prominent national singers will participate to make the celebration more colourful. Four parking zones have been made for at least 20,000 vehicles near Sea View.
The participants from district east, west, central and south would join the main procession through their specific routes and security measures have also been categorised separately for the VIP guests as well as the media.
The ANP has installed camps and hoisted party’s flags and banners in various parts of the city, especially the Pukhtoon dominated areas and the routes leading to the main procession to welcome its participants.
While the ANP is overjoyed about its Jashn-e-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at the same time, it is worried about any kind of violence and terrorism at the occasion.
“In Karachi, we are concerned that our rival political party could do anything to disrupt the programme, as it is afraid that the Pukhtoons might gain strength in the city as they have always created hurdles in the past when we tried to display our strength,” ANP spokesperson Qadir Khan told Daily Times. “We have already informed the government and police high-ups in this regard and they assured us of their cooperation.”
The spokesman said, besides the deployment of the police and Rangers personnel, at least five thousand volunteers of the ANP have also been assigned for security purpose.
On the other hand, police and intelligence experts have also warned about the potential threats of violence and terrorism and said that Friday’s explosion in Soldier Bazaar police precincts was a ‘testing’ by the elements to disrupt ANP’s celebration. Nonetheless, ANP’s Khan also agreed with it and said that such elements could target the participants of the rallies en route to the central procession by target killings or minor explosions as well as targeting the main procession as they have intensions to fail the celebration. “Participants would be able to enter the main procession after being checked six times at the entrance,” Khan added.
On the other hand, Karachi police chief Wasim Ahmed, when contacted, said that the police have taken all precautionary measures ahead of the ANP procession and assigned routes for the participants to join the main procession and they would also provide security on the routes leading to the main procession. “About 1,500 law enforces would be deployed for the security purpose to avoid any untoward incident as anything could happen at anytime with anyone,” Ahmed said. “Display of weapon is not allowed and the ANP has also assured us in this regard.”