Daily Times

LAHORE: The city police have chalked out a comprehensive security plan for Eidul Azha, which will be celebrate from September 2 to 4.

According to the plan, more than 8,000 police officers and officials will be deputed across the city to avoid any untoward incident.

The City Traffic Police (CTP) have also finalised their traffic plan to maintain traffic flow during Eid holidays, as at least 3,000 traffic officials, including wardens, would perform their duties on different city roads, especially near cattle markets, markets and other important public places.

Police high-ups have ordered to depute specially trained snipers on rooftops of buildings located adjacent to important public places such as mosques, government installations and offices across the city.

The steps have been taken in the wake of increasing number of people visiting the markets before Eid.

The agencies have started conducting search operations before Eid across the city, and there were reports that several suspects had been arrested for not providing their identification documents. However, the law enforcers released several people after their complete verification.

They have also started checking rented houses, small shops, railway station, different bus stands and important markets in different areas of the city. The police department has additionally called the Elite Police Force, Mujahid Squad, Quick Response Force, Dolphin Force and PRU along with personnel in plainclothes from other intelligence agencies for round-the-clock patrolling in all sensitive areas before and during Eidul Azha holidays. The personnel deputed at city’s police stations have also been directed to keep a vigilant eye on all crowded places situated in their respective jurisdiction.

The agencies have beefed up security at all the entry and exits points of the city. They also installed additional CCTV cameras at different important roads, markets and public places, especially the entry and exit points of the city.

Talking to Daily Times, a senior police officer said a high-profile meeting of senior police officers was held to finalise a security plan to maintain law and order in the city during on Eid days.

CCPO Lahore Capt (r) Amin Wains chaired the meeting regarding security plan of Eidul Azha in which DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf, SP Security and other police officers participated.

DIG Dr Haider Ashraf gave a briefing on the security plan of Eidul Azha to the CCPO.

The plan has been divided into three steps – pre-Eid, Eid and post Eid measures. According to it, foolproof security arrangements have been planned for Eid at markets, shopping centres, graveyards, open places where Eid prayers will be offered, mosques and Imambargahs.

Special commandoes will perform duties on more than 3,000 mosques and imambargahs and 135 open places. Checking of people through frisking and metal detectors shall be ensured at the entry points of markets, the DIG said. Parking arrangements have also been made with the collaboration of traffic police. Similarly, police would be deployed at graveyards and entertainment places in the city.

CCPO Amin Wains said that every person had a wish to spend good days with their family, adding that the police were trying to provide foolproof environment to the people by “sacrificing our happiness”. He also said that the authorities had made comprehensive security arrangements at the entry and exit points of the city. He also directed all police officers to ensure effective patrolling across the city.

The CCPO directed the chief traffic officer CTO to prepare a special traffic plan for ensuring smooth flow of traffic on roads during Eid days and said that additional traffic wardens be deputed at important roads and in busy areas. He said that additional police force be deputed at markets and business places during Eid shopping days.

The CCPO appealed to the religious leaders and citizens to completely cooperate with the police, especially during entry to the mosques. He said that almost all security arrangements had been completed to avoid any untoward incident during Eid days. He said that walkthrough gates would be set up at all major mosques, while heavy contingents of police equipped with metal detectors would be deputed on this occasion.

CTO SSP Rai Ijaz said that a comprehensive traffic plan had been finalised for Eid days to maintain traffic flow near Eid gahs, important mosques and all public places across the city. He said that more than 3,000 traffic officials, including SPs, DSPs, inspectors, traffic wardens and constables, would perform their duties on Eid days. He added that additional force would be deployed at all cattle markets, bazaar and other public places to facilitate the citizens, providing them safe and peaceful atmosphere during Eidul Azha days.

Published in Daily Times, September 1^st 2017.