Police finalise security arrangements

The Islamabad Police on Sunday finalised comprehensive security arrangements for the processions and religious gatherings during Muharram-ul-Haram and decided to launch combing as well as search operations in various slums, especially those inhibited by Afghan nationals, to ensure foolproof security. A special meeting, presided over by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bani Amin Khan, was held, which was also attended by DIG (Security) Ehsan Sadiq, AIG Sultan Azam Temuri, SSP Muhammad Yousuf Malik, SSP (Traffic) Dr Moeen Masood, SP Sajid Kyani and all DSPs, SHOs and other officials.
The IGP was informed that a control room had been set up for maintaining close coordination among all wings of Islamabad Police and staff, adding that necessary equipments had already been provided to the facility, which would work round the clock. The IGP directed the officers to conduct effective search operations in the slums and maintain close liaison with peace committees and organisers of the religious events.
He said cooperation of organizers with the police and law enforcement agencies should be ensured.
The meeting was told that a total of 909 religious gatherings and 177 processions (159 traditional and 18 licensed) would be held during the ten-day period on which the IGP said special arrangements should be made for checking the ‘burqa-clad’ women and installing walkthrough gates at the entry points of the gatherings. The meeting also said that Rangers and FC would also assist the Islamabad Police to ensure elaborate security arrangements.
The IGP also ordered the SHOs to make proper lighting arrangements after negotiations with the authorities concerned and to weed out bushes in the vicinity of worship places.
He asked the SSP (Traffic) to ensure arrangements for avoiding any inconvenience to road users and said special deployment should be made for smooth flow of traffic at alternate routes during the processions.
He also asked the officers to take steps to curb wall chalking or pasting the posters which may hurt sentiments of people.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Police conducted a flag march in the city to ensure foolproof security and maintain vigilance against the miscreants during the month of Muharram.
The personnel of anti-terrorist squad, Rescue 15, police commandos, Rangers and FC were also a part of the march, lead by Superintendent of Police (Saddar) Sajid Kiani and organised on the directives of Islamabad IGP Bani Amin Khan and SSP Muhammad Yousuf Malik.
More than 100 vehicles of police and other wings along with a large number of motorcycles took part in the march, which started from D-Chowk and culminated at Pakistan Sports Complex after passing through. Rawal Dam Chowk, Shehzad Town, Tararmri Chowk, Lehtrar Road, Khana Bridge, Koral Chowk, PWD Colony, Beharia Town, Expressway, Sain Boota Shrine, Faizabad, I-8 Markaz, I-9 Markaz, Imambargah Jafferia, I-10 Markaz, Imambargah Musa Kazim, Kashmir Highway, Project More, Sector G-10/2, F-11 Markaz, Bheka Syedan, F-10 Markaz, Imambargah Al-Sadiq, Jinnah Avenue, Kulsoom Plaza, Imambargah Asan-e-Ashri, Melody and Aabpara Market.