Daily Times

LAHORE: The city police have finalised a security plan for the month of Muharram, according to which more than 10,000 police officers and officials will perform security duties from today (Friday) to avoid any untoward incident across the provincial capital.

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 while pinpointing sensitive areas and upgrading the security arrangements according to developments. He said that police high-ups had passed on strict directives to police officials to ensure patrolling in their respective areas and pay surprise visits at police pickets set up within their jurisdiction during Muharram.

Sources in the intelligence agencies told Daily Times that they have pinpointed at least 50 most sensitive points this year, and that they had categorised dozens of other points in the city as points of security concern, where Muharram processions and gatherings would take place.

The sources further added that the agencies were trying to increase the use of latest technology to scan the routes and areas from where the processions would pass.

Imambargah Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Chowk Nawab Sahib, Koocha Qazi Khana, Imambargah Molvi Feroz Ali, Koocha Miskeenan, Mohalla Peer Gillanian, Imambargah Syed Rajab Ali Shah, Chau-Hatta Mufti Baqir, Chowk Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazaar, Sonehri Masjid, Dabbi Bazaar, Gumtti Bazaar (Rang Mahal Chowk), Syed Mittha Bazaar, Tehsil Bazaar, Bazaar Hakimaan, Ucchi Masjid, Bhatti Chowk, Karbala Gamay Shah, Islampura, Jain Mandir, Old Anarkali, Ghaziabad, Nicholson Road and Imamia Colony have been included in the list of most vulnerable places in terms of security threats identified by the agencies.

The agencies had reportedly started the search and scanning operation in these areas and on the routes of the processions with the help of modern scanners, sniffer dogs and through human intelligence days before the start of Muharram in order to ensure foolproof security.

They also checked the rented houses and small shops in different areas and thousands of policemen and personnel from intelligence and other law enforcement agencies participated in this exercise.

The agencies will block all the entry points on the routes and those who will join the procession right from the beginning under the observation of police and the event organizers will be allowed to participate in the religious rituals. No bystanders, either in the streets, on the roads or on the roofs of the buildings, would be allowed to watch the mourners, while snipers will take positions on different buildings in order to counter any terrorist activity. Punjab Police Inspector General Captain (r) Arif Nawaz Khan said that as many as 125,000 officers/officials would perform Muharram duties across Punjab for the protection of processions, majalis and other religious gatherings, besides securing sensitive and most sensitive points.

Addressing a videoconference with all regional police officers (RPOs) at the CPO on Thursday, the IG said that the police were playing a frontline role in the war on terror, besides maintaining peace and law and order in the province. “This war will continue until crimes and terrorism are eliminated from the province.”

According to sources, the police have been ordered to launch massive search operations across the province to ensure peace and foolproof security during the holy month of Muharram. All RPOs, DPOs and other senior police officers attended the conference.

The IG said that four-tire security would be provided at all sensitive and most sensitive processions, majalis and other religious gathering across the province. He said that personnel of the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers would also remain standby.

He also directed the officers to ensure installation of searchlights on security vehicles, besides arranging video coverage of all the processions with the cooperation of CTD and the Special Branch. A decision was also made about the installation and usage of CCTV cameras, barbed wires, walkthrough gates, mobile jammers and metal detectors at all the entry and exit points of the cities and processions.

He warned that the elements found involved in spreading hatred and delivering provocative speeches would be dealt with strictly.

Published in Daily Times, September 22^nd 2017.