Daily Times

LAHORE: City police is on high alert and has beefed up its security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident during the last Friday prayer of holy month of Ramazan in the provincial capital, as more than 6,000 police officials would perform their security duties today.

As the last Friday of Ramazan, security around all the mosques had been tightened whereas policemen in plainclothes had been deployed during the afternoon, which was the most sensitive time of the day.

The police high-ups deputed specially trained snipers at the rooftops of buildings adjacent to all mosques, markets, bazaars and other public places across the city. The police department has also called the Elite Police Force, Mujahid Force, Quick Response Force, and Dolphin Force in addition to personnel in plainclothes from other intelligence agencies for round-the-clock patrolling in all sensitive areas. The officials and private security guards were already
present at all sensitive mosques and other places where the citizens were checked rigorously.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf also visited different mosques of the city to review the arrangements of security. He directed the duty officials to perform their duties with great efficiency, honesty, humbleness and commitment. He warned them that if any police official would be found leaving his point of duty before departure of faithful at religious places, strict action would be taken against him.

The DIG also appealed the religious leaders and citizens to cooperate with police to ensure success of security arrangements in the city during the holy month of Ramazan. He directed all divisional SPs to personally monitor the officials deputed in sensitive areas and give them proper briefing in this regard. He further said that Lahore police was determined to create the atmosphere of peace in the city at any cost.

Meanwhile, City Traffic Police (CTP) also finalised traffic arrangements outside important mosques, imambarghs and other religious places on the last Friday of Ramazan. More than 2,000 traffic police officials would perform their duties on important city roads as well as near and surrounding areas of sensitive mosques, imambarghs and other important places to maintain the traffic flow and facilitate the road users.