During the holy month of Ramzan, mosques and playgrounds all over the country are witnessing large gatherings at ‘traweeh’ prayers. So, beware of terrorists who may sneak in to claim innocent lives at the bidding of their masters. We have examples of mosques and shrines that have been targeted in the past.
A large gathering in a small mosque, especially for ‘traweeh’, provides an easy target for terrorists. Such an attack means large number of casualties.
Every mosque management should form a ‘watch committee’ of volunteers to monitor security of the mosque. All entrances to the mosque should remain locked except the main entrance which should be manned either by policemen or by mosque volunteers.
However, other entrances should be opened during prayer timings only and must remain under strict security watch. All windows and openings of the mosque should have iron grills, with wire mesh covering, so that no one is able to intrude or throw a hand grenade.
Similarly, if prayers are held in the mosque’s courtyard, it should be covered with canopies and surrounded by partitions to pre-empt any attack from outside. Mosques should be well-lit at night.
For monitoring of the internal and external areas of the mosque by the police during prayer timings, the government should also consider installing closed-circuit television surveillance cameras. Worshipers should be told to immediately inform the police or the mosque committee if they suspect something foul.
Although the primary responsibility of ensuring security of mosques rests with law enforcers, measures suggested above would greatly help to prevent any terrorist attack on mosques.
SAJID AFRIDI
Karachi
