Succumbing to pressure of media and lawyers’ fraternity, who protested twice in front of Police Training College, Sihala, and raised questions about the presence of Americans there, the Government has decided to shift Americans to Islamabad Police Line Headquarters.

Reliable sources informed TheNation on Sunday that the quarters concerned have asked Islamabad police to vacate two blocks of Police Line Headquarters for American who would be shifted there from Sihala.

On the other hand, officials of Islamabad police, who are residing in Police Line Headquarters showed great resistance and demanded of the authorities concerned not to shift Americans there. Police officials suggested their high-ups to shift the Americans somewhere else like Diplomatic Enclave but not at Police Line, which is already at security risk.

It may be recalled here that last year a suicide blast rocked the Police Line Headquarters and the area is considered as a sensitive one and shifting of Americans there would create more problems for police.

A most senior and well-informed police officer wishing not to be named told TheNation that shifting of American trainers to Police Line Headquarters was on the cards and within a week they (Americans) would be shifted there.

“Presently they are giving training to police at Sihala College and possess a lot of training equipments that’s why they would be shifted there, as area is ideal for them for training and security point of views,” he added.

It is relevant to note here that hundreds of lawyers belonging to Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) held an anti-Blackwater rally-cum protest in front of Police Training College, Sihala, the other day. They urged the Government to expel the instructors, whom they termed as officials of Blackwater (Xe Worldwide), who are living in Sihala College situated near Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). lawyers were of the views that they were monitoring Pakistan’s nuclear assets in the guise of trainers.

The lawyers also warned the Government that they would brought a rally-cum protest in front of Parliament on January 5 against the presence of Americans at the college situated near KRL.

Sources informed that Government decided to shift American trainers after the excessive pressure build up by the lawyers and media, particularly to avoid the January 5 protest rally, which could turn into another long march.