Daily Times

LAHORE: The city police have prepared a security and vigilance plan for today’s simultaneous religious events – chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and third day of urs of Hazrat Ali Hajveri.

According to the security and traffic plan issued on Thursday, more than 15,000 policemen, officers and other law enforcers would perform their duties to avoid any untoward incident in the provincial capital.

Pillion riding has also been banned on the central route of the procession for the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS). However, the police high-ups submitted an application to the Home Department for suspension of cell phone services on the procession route.

Law enforcers have also been directed to check the participants on all entry points of the procession route under the four-tier security parameters through metal detectors, walkthrough gates and manually, before allowing them to join the procession.

Moreover, police patrolling, picketing and snap checking is being ensured in the areas of Imambargahs, majalis points, Data Darbar and its surrounding areas and also other sensitive places across the city. The parking of vehicles would be at a certain distance from the Imambargahs and venues of majalis.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf said that the city police would remain on high alert in order to maintain peaceful atmosphere and harmony in the provincial capital, while more than 15,000 police officers would provide security cover, whereas armed personals would also be deputed to maintain law and order. He added that special surveillance and checking of all hotels, inns, buses and wagon stands were being ensured to avoid any possibility of subversion and to maintain law and order on the occasions of chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and urs of Data Sahib. He directed the officers to make effective arrangements to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the occasion.

Thousands of devotees and followers are scattered around different places in the city, for which police high-ups would depute specially trained snipers on rooftops of buildings located adjacent to important public places such as mosques and government installations across the city.

The police would also utilise the services of Elite Force, Mujahid Force, Dolphin Force and Quick Response Force in addition to personnel of Special Branch and other intelligence agencies for round-the-clock surveillance in all sensitive areas. 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 jurisdictions.

Talking to Daily Times, a senior police officer said a high-profile meeting of senior police officers had been held to chalk out a “foolproof” security plan to maintain law and order in the city on Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and urs of Data Ali Hajveri. He added that all entry and exit points of the city would be covered and rooftop deployment be made on different routes. Police high-ups directed that parking be made at a safe distance, preferably 200 metres, from the venue of the processions, whereas mobile squads, motorbikes and cars of Elite Force would also be deployed on these occasions.

The City Traffic Police has also completed the traffic plan for the last day of urs of Hazrat Ali Hajveri and Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) procession.

Zuljinah procession would be taken out from Delhi Gate and culminate at Karbala Gamay Shah. Keeping in view that a large number of citizens would come to participate in the procession and urs, some parts of the road would remain closed for traffic. The participants could park their vehicles in Greater Iqbal Park, Nasir Bagh and near Mochi Gate. Under supervision of SP Traffic (City Division) Asif Siddique and SP Traffic (Sadar Division) Sardar Asif Khan, seven DSPs, 26 senior traffic wardens, 587 wardens and 105 lady traffic wardens would be deputed.