ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that all security-related departments are fully alert for maintenance of law and order situation on the occasion of Ashura.
While addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said that additional security personnel have been deployed for the security of mourning processions.
The interior minister said that the mobile service has temporarily been suspended at some places for the security of the people.
The minister asked the participants of the processions to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
Strongly rejecting the Indian propaganda regarding Pakistan’s border situation, the interior minister said that there is complete peace and tranquility at Torkham and Chaman borders which are open for movement, trade, and transit visa facility. He however clarified that Pakistan has not received any refugees.
Sheikh Rashid said that three buses with 100 to 120 Pakistanis on board were cleared early Wednesday morning at the Torkham border. He said that 613 Pakistanis have so far been brought back from Afghanistan since August 14.
The minister said that our effort is to bring back all those Pakistanis willing to return to their homeland in the next two days.
Sheikh Rashid said that Pakistan has also evacuated about 900 diplomats and foreign media journalists from Afghanistan.
The interior minister said that Pakistan advocates peace and a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan. He expressed confidence that the situation will improve in Afghanistan.
