Daily Times

LAHORE: The city police have finalised a security plan to maintain law and order on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, according to which more than 15,000 police officers and officials will perform duties to tackle any untoward incident across the city.

The Punjab government has also imposed a ban on pillion riding across the province, especially for these two days. The decision had been made while keeping in view the security situation during Muharram.

According to the directives, women, children and elderly will be exempted from the ban. The police will be responsible for arresting violators, who will be kept in custody for 72 hours. However, the decision on suspension of mobile phone services had not been finalised until the filing of this report.

A senior police officer said that a high-profile meeting of top officers was held to chalk out a “foolproof” security plan to maintain law and order in the city, pinpointing and upgrading the security scene according to developments.

He said that police high-ups had passed on strict directions to police officials to ensure patrolling in their respective areas and pay surprise visits to police pickets set up within their jurisdiction during Muharram.

Speaking on the occasion, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Captain (r) Amin Wains said that a comprehensive security plan had been finalised under which 15,000 security officials would be deployed for security purpose across the city. He said that a control room had been established to monitor the security arrangements of Imambargahs and the routes of processions. He added that cameras had been installed on the routes of mourning processions and walkthrough gates erected on entry points to avoid any unpleasant incident.

He said that extra police officials would perform special duty in plainclothes at all processions and majalis in sensitive localities. He said that the display of arms had already been banned in the city and stern action would be taken against the violators irrespective of their status.

He directed the officials that visible and effective patrolling should be ensured around every sensitive majlis and procession, and the parking areas be made 100 metres away from such majalis and processions. He said that it should also be ensured that police officials and volunteers check every motorcycle and vehicle before letting them in the parking area.

The CCPO further said that expert sharpshooters be assigned the rooftop duties at every sensitive mosque and Imambargah. He also directed that with the cooperation of managements of sensitive mosques and Imambargahs and the city district government, installation of security cameras be ensured there.

It may be mentioned here that the intelligence agencies have categorised dozens of points in the city where Muharram processions and gatherings will take place as “points of security concern”. The agencies had started the search and scanning operation in such areas and on the routes of the processions with the help of modern scanners, sniffer dogs and through human intelligence days before the Ashura in order to ensure foolproof security.

The security agencies also closed the link roads and surrounding roads of the main procession route with barbed wires and tents. The Lower Mall, Old Anarkali Bazaar and other important roads where different majalis will be held have been closed for public, especially on these two days.

On the other hand, the city traffic police have finalised traffic arrangements, as part of which more than 1,400 traffic officials will perform their duties on the routes of processions on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) SSP Rai Ijaz said that complete “traffic security” would be provided to the main procession, while special alternative routes had been designated for rescue vehicles in any case of emergency.

He added that in order to maintain traffic flow in the city, six deputy superintendents of police (DSP), 69 inspectors and 1,300 traffic wardens would perform their duties in three shifts. All streets, roads and routes along the procession route would be sealed to facilitate the participants of the procession, while all vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, would be allowed to park at a safe distance.

Published in Daily Times, September 30^th 2017.