RAWALPINDI: The Punjab police responsible for maintaining law and order across the province have been prohibited from carrying firearms. Only the city police officers (CPOs), district police officers (DPOs), and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) are authorized to have armed guards.
In a directive issued by Additional Inspector General Operations Zahid Nawaz, all divisional police chiefs, including CPOs, DPOs, and SSPs, were informed that no police officer, apart from these senior positions, will be allowed to carry weapons. Instead, officers on duty will be equipped with riot gear, such as tear gas guns, shells, and batons, to manage potential unrest.
This decision aims to prevent escalation during violent protests, according to a senior police officer.
Meanwhile, the district administration and police have set up roadblocks using freight containers and heavy vehicles at key locations including Faizabad, 6th Road, Carriage Factory, and Soan Bridge. These blockades have caused significant disruptions for office workers, traders, and students.
In Rawalpindi, the roadblocks have severely impacted traffic, especially affecting students preparing for exams and commuters traveling through Potohar Avenue (Soan Road). The traffic disruptions were compounded by the ongoing match between Bangladesh and Pakistan, which led to additional restrictions on Double Road near the Cricket Stadium.
Despite the chaos, the Chief Traffic Officer remained active throughout the day to manage traffic flow, according to a traffic police spokesman.
