Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police have made foolproof security arrangements for the three-day ‘Tablighi Ijtima’ (Religious congregation) starting here at Sector I-11/1 on Saturday and decided to depute over 700 personnel for the security of the participants. Four QRF teams of Pakistan Rangers have been constituted which would perform patrolling duties on mobile vehicles. Joint patrolling will be also conducted at IJ Principal road as a strategy to maintain high vigilance.

The checking of all the participants will be made through metal detectors and walk-through gates will be installed at the entry points while a separate place has been allocated for the car parking. Police would patrol the area around the Ijtima while combing as well as search operation would be conducted in the localities near Sabzi Mandi area. The senior police officials will supervise the security arrangements and brief the deputed staff. Special branch and model traffic police will also perform their duties at the Ijtema. According to police source, SSP Islamabad Sajid Kiani has directed all the sub-divisional police officials and SHOs to make the checking process effective. A control room will also be established under the supervision of the DSP for coordination among the deployed staff through wireless system, the source maintained. Zonal SP, SDPO Industrial Area and SHO Sabzi Mandi police will supervise all security measures. They will coordinate all security arrangements and will be responsible for making necessary security steps in the Ijtimah premises. Policemen will ensure that all participants enter into the area after proper checking of their luggage and manual checking with metal detectors. Bomb disposal squad teams have been deputed for technical sweeping at the venue while one team of bomb disposal squad will remain present at the venue round the clock. Plain clothed officials have been deputed for collection of advance intelligence and officers equipped with metal detectors will check any suspicious and un-attended bag or other item lying there in coordination with volunteers and organizers of the congregation. Special deployment of traffic policemen has been made to avoid traffic jams from Pirwadhai More to Railway Gate on I.J. Principal Road, Sir Syed road and Police Lines Road. At the culmination of this congregation on May 2, further deployment of traffic cops will be made to avoid traffic mess so that people may travel towards their destination without any problem.