ISLAMABAD: While the district administration withdrew all powers from the police to use force against the marchers, most of the senior police officers were reported to have skipped duties in the Red Zone.
Officials in the capital administration and the police said Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil had ordered the police to only baton charge the protesters that too if necessary.
Besides, rubber bullets and weapons to use them were also taken back from the police personnel.
The use of teargas shells has also been prohibited.
The officials also said most of the supervisory police officers were skipping duties in the Red Zone on different pretexts.
They said the contingents of the railway police had not reported to their duty spot at Constitution Avenue for the last two days. Besides, the supervisory officers of the Punjab and AJK police also disappeared from the duty spots.
A decrease of police manpower was also visible on the Constitution Avenue and those present there preferred to remain at a distance from the protesters.
Despite directions issued by the available officers, the personnel of the Punjab and AJK police ran backward instead of countering the protesters, said the officials.
They added that only a few dozen policemen obeyed the directions.
The officials said majority of the officers of the capital police had also disappeared from their duties for the last two days.
Either they are unwilling to take action against the protesters or do not want to perform duty under the prevailing circumstances.
INTERNEWS
