Daily Times

LAHORE: More than 10,000 police officials would be designated to perform security duties during the month of Ramadan at all religious places, important markets, bazaars and all government and private sensitive buildings to avoid any untoward incident across the provincial capital.

A senior police officer said that foolproof security arrangements have been finalised to protect more than 4,000 mosques and imambargahs in the city besides controlling the overall law and order situation. He added that snipers would be also performed their duties on the rooftop of 250 highly sensitive mosques and imambargah.

An emergency meeting on security issue with all law enforcer agencies and members of districts peace committee was chaired by Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains at Qilla Gujjar Singh on Tuesday. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf, SSP Operations Malik Liaqat Ali and other officers were also present.

According to spokesman of the CCPO office, police high ups have passed on strict directions to the concerned officials to ensure patrolling in their respective areas besides paying surprise visits to police pickets set up within their jurisdiction.

He said upon receiving directions from seniors, all police officers delivered strict orders to all station house officers (SHOs) to ensure the implementation of the security plan at important religious places, markets, bazaars and other public places such as offices and residences within their respective areas.

The SHOs, serving in different police stations across the city, requesting anonymity, told Daily Times that security has been beefed up in their areas especially during Ramadan. They said that administrations of all ‘A’ category mosques have been directed to maintain lights inside and outside of mosques as well as in the adjoining streets.

They said all the administration of mosques and other places must set up walk through gates, metal detectors, CCTV cameras and private security guards during Ramadan.

CCPO Capt (R) Muhammad Ameen Wains said that city police would adopt an extraordinary security plan for religious places, markets, bazaars, important government and private building and other places during the holy month. He added that police also beefed up the security at all other religious places and other important places of the city especially exits and entry in the city where patrolling and police pickets also beefed up.

City Traffic Police also claimed to have made special arrangements to ensure smooth vehicular activities on city’s thoroughfares during the holy month of Ramadan.

According to spokesman, around 30 police inspectors and 300 traffic wardens, under the supervision of DSPs, are performing duties on city roads. Similarly, he said, extra wardens would be deployed on busy arteries including the Canal Road’s underpasses while wardens would also be assigned special duties around all the leading mosques during ‘Traveeh’ prayers.