Daily Times

LAHORE: Following the suicide attack on the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine in Sindh on Thursday, city police have beefed up the security arrangements at all government and private institutions, buildings, schools, colleges, universities, shrines, religious places and other important places in the provincial metropolis.

CCPO Amin Wains and DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf have condemned the suicide attack on Mall Road as well as on Lal Shahbaz Shrine in Sindh and ordered officials concerned to tighten the security around educational institutions, shrines, religious places across the city. They said that the murderers of the innocent citizens were the enemy of the humanity and the nation.

Earlier on February 13, at least 14 people, including DIG Traffic Syed Ahmad Mobin and SSP (Operations) Zahid Gondal were killed and more than 90 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near police officers when they were negotiating with the protesters on The Mall in Front of Punjab Assembly.

Meanwhile, city police Thursday arrested more than 100 suspects during search and combing operations in different parts of the city, especially Afghans residence areas, hotels and guesthouses.

Both top cops have directed all divisional SPs, DSPs, and station house officer (SHOs) to personally meet the local notables, administration of different institutions, market leaders and others and ensure security arrangements.

Sources told Daily Times that Lahore police have also called troops of Elite Force, Rangers and other law enforcers for round-the-clock patrolling in declared sensitive areas, while on the other hand the personnel deputed at city’s police stations were also directed for keeping vigilant eye at all crowded places situated in their respective jurisdictions.

During search operations on Hall Road and Bedon Road, bio data of inhabitants were checked and reconciled with biometric devices. Two DSPs, five stations house officers, Dolphin Force, CTD personnel and intelligence agencies personnel participated in the search operation. Dr Haider and Civil Lines SP led the search operation.

Talking to media representatives, the SP said that search operations were being done on a daily basis to improve situation of law and order. “Police and Public are together in this run to drive out terrorism from the city,” he said.

Separately, a quick response exercise to counter any untoward incident was held at the Lahore Grammar School Faisal Town under the supervision of Model Town SP Ismaeel Kharak.

The purpose of the quick response exercise session was to ensure the sense of security among the children during rush hour. The SP said that the quick response exercise was held on the directive of the DIG (Operations).