Police pull up socks ahead of Eid

LAHORE: Lahore Police has decided to continue with the strategy of deploying extra security personnel at sensitive places instead of adopting any scientific method to prevent terrorist attacks on Eidul Azha, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Around 10,000 policemen including Elite Force commandoes would be deployed to protect sensitive places including mosques, imambargahs, parks and bazaars. In order to chalk out a comprehensive security strategy for Eid, Lahore Police officials held a meeting on Sunday chaired by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rao Sardar Kareem.
It was decided that police would remain on high alert in order to maintain peace and harmony in Lahore during the Eid holidays. The meeting decided that policemen including 12 superintendents of police (SP), 35 deputy superintendents of police (DSP), 77 station house officers (SHO) and 10,000 lower ranked policemen would perform duties on Eid.
Elite Force and Muhafiz Force officials would also help in maintaining peace during the festival. The police would secure all entry and exit points of mosques and imambargahs throughout the city while policemen would also be deployed at rooftops of important places and buildings. It would also be made sure that the vehicles were parked at least 200 metres from eidgahs.
Mobile squads, motorcycles and cars of Elite Force would also be used for patrolling. Divisional SPs have been directed to personally oversee the deployment and patrolling of policemen and mobile squads in their respective areas.
Police have also established crisis management centres in the city, which would function around the clock, while a special control room has also been established in the office of the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) and DIG Operations office for coordination between various security agencies.
Police have also discussed the security plans with political leaders and requested businessmen to ensure the installation and proper functioning of security cameras at and around important business places and markets in the city.
Talking to Pakistan Today, SP Security Faisal Rana said that Lahore Police have taken all possible security measures on the occasion of Eidul Azha. He said that the IGP has provided Elite Force commandoes for providing additional security and police were hopeful of avoiding any untoward incident in the city.
Replying to a question on any changes in the security strategy, he said that police have used all available resources in this regard. Rana said that for the first time, Lahore Police had arranged a briefing session for policemen who would be performing duties on Eid.
He said that policemen have been directed to remain on high alert while concerned officials have also been informed of the different points where policemen would be deployed. Rana said that the Special Branch was also in contact with police and would immediately inform about any suspicious elements present in the city.
Talking about scientific measures for combating terrorism, he said that it could take several months for evolving and developing any such techniques. Rana said that police have to rely upon the available resources but sniffer dogs would also be used for tracing suspicious elements in the city.