Daily Times

All the Regional Police Officers and District Police Officers will devise the security plan for sensitive Muharram processions and majalis of their regions and districts.

Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr Syed Kalim Imam expressed these views while presiding over a video link conference with senior police officers at Central Police Office, on Wednesday.

He directed them to ensure the scanning and screening of all the routes before the processions begin. He further ordered the use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, walk through gates, metal detectors and other advance equipments for the security of majalis and processions during Muharram.

Police commandos in civil uniforms shall be deployed in the processions and snipers should be installed on rooftops that come on the route of sensitive processions in order to avoid any untoward incident. He ordered to ensure video recording of processions through CCTV installment on the route of main procession. He ordered to further expedite the operation against most-wanted criminals, dacoits and anti-social elements and to observe keenly the individuals who come under fourth schedule and proscribed organisation.

IG Punjab further directed the officers to ensure schedule of the processions and to launch search, sweep and combing operations on daily basis in the areas where processions and majalis are being held. He ordered to take strict action against those who violate loudspeaker act or the ones who promote sectarianism through hate material or wall chalking. He said that no official would leave his duty point until every single azadar had left the procession and for that purpose, all the officials should briefed on daily basis so that they could do their job in a better way.

Moreover, IG Punjab also visited Special Protection Unit (SPU) head quarter and Kahna camp office and chaired a session regarding the working of SPU. SPU DIG Waseem Sial briefed the IG about different operations in the province including the security of Chinese experts working on China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects.

The IG Punjab ordered to facilitate and assist the officials on field duty and announced that new force of SPU for the security of high profile personalities would be made operational as soon as possible. He said that to enhance the capability of SPU personnel, the refresher courses should be continued. He further asked to ensure weekly holiday for SPU officials and to recruit female personnel as well. He ordered to make use of SPU vehicles for their relevant projects. During his visit, IG Punjab met Chinese citizens and SPU officials also. He directed SPU officials to provide security to Chinese and other foreigners as they are “our guests and would be able to play their part fearlessly for the development of our country”. At the end of the visit, SPU DIG presented a souvenir to IG Punjab.

Published in Daily Times, September 6^th 2018.