Daily Times

LAHORE: Police, as part of its security plan for the upcoming month of Muharram, would depute more than 10,000 officers on sensitive points to avoid any untoward incident across the provincial capital.

Police would also use drone cameras to record speeches delivered by Shia clerics as well as monitor suspicious activities across the city. Police have also installed several CCTV cameras at all sensitive points to maintain law and order in the city during the holy month, while ban on pillion riding and mobile phone jamming would be decided on the request of the field officers. Moreover, Pakistan Army and Punjab Rangers would remain on standby position to curb any untoward situation.

A senior police officer told Daily Times 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. He said the meeting stressed the need for upgrading the security scene according to new developments.

He said according to the security plan, CCTV cameras, metal detectors and walkthrough gates would be installed at sensitive places for search and monitoring purposes, while aerial surveillance of processions and seminaries would be done through drone cameras.

He said that police high ups have directed the officials to ensure patrolling in their respective areas and pay surprise visits at police pickets set up within their jurisdiction during Muharram.

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

The sources added that the agencies were trying to increase the usage of sophisticated technology by scanning 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, Syed Mittha Bazaar, Tehsil Bazaar, Bazaar Hakimaan, Ucchi Masjid, Bhatti Chowk, Karbala Gamay Shah, Islampura, Jain Mandir, Old Anarkali, Ghaziabad, Nickolson Road and Imamia Colony were included among the most vulnerable places in terms of security threats identified by the agencies.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Capt (r) Muhammad Amin Wains said that the city police would utilise all available resources to provide protection to seminaries, processions and mourners during the Muharram. He said that sectarian harmony was of paramount importance and there was a need to respect religious sentiments of all schools of thought, besides spreading the message of peace. He also directed the DIG (Operations) that while chalking out security plan for Muharram, recommendations of members of the committee should also be kept in view. He said that legal action should be taken against misuse of loudspeakers without any discrimination.