Rangers join police to protect city

On request of the Punjab government, Rangers on Sunday joined police and other law enforcement agencies for ensuring security during Muharram processions and congregations as the mourners geared up for larger gatherings on Youm-e-Ashur. Out of the 11 companies of Rangers deployed in the province four are kept for Lahore with one each for Gujranwala, Attock, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur and Jhelum. In the provincial capital, police have acquired two helicopters from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for aerial monitoring of the processions on 9th and 10th of Muharram. The choppers also flew over the city on Sunday to check security arrangements along the route of main procession of the day.
Rangers also hold an exercise to exhibit their skills of handling any untoward situation during processions. Over 12,000 cops are deployed in the city to maintain law and order on the two days. Moreover, Rescue 1122 and Edhi personnel are also assigned duties to provide first aid to mourners in case of any emergency. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ahmad Raza Tahir has ordered special security cover to all Ashura processions at the time of dispersal and directed that no irrelevant or suspicious person should be allowed to enter into the dispersing crowd. The CCPO said that in order to ensure foolproof security, the Quick Response Force (QRF) had also been deployed, along with regular police and Rangers personnel.
He also ordered Lahore Police to provide extraordinary security cover to women’s gatherings and processions, whereas a comprehensive checking and screening of motorcycles with pillion riders should also be carried out. The CCPO said a comprehensive monitoring through CCTV cameras along with aerial monitoring, would be made for all Muharram processions passing through the approved routes. Tahir said all kinds of traffic would remain suspended on the said route, whereas close circuit cameras had also been installed alongside the routes.
Police officials in civvies, cops from Elite and Mohafiz forces, mounted force, mobile squads and sniffer dogs had also been deployed on the route of Zuljinnah, the CCPO added. He ordered the police to conduct checking and screening at all entry and exit points of the city. He further directed that during Ashura, no one would be allowed to display weapons, and in case of any violation, strict legal action would be initiated.
He said metal detectors should be used at the entrance of all imambargahs and no one should be allowed to enter without checking to avoid any untoward incident.
The CCPO directed all divisional SPs to personally check the force deployment and patrolling of mobile squad in their respective areas, besides paying random visits to sensitive places.
Meanwhile, on 8th day of Muharram, over 100 processions were carried out in the provincial capital with main procession of Zuljinnah replica emerged from Islampura Bazaar. Processions of alam (flag), taboot (coffin) and jhola (swing) symbolising the martyrdom of different accomplices of Imam Hussain were also carried out through out the city. Strict security measures were ensured for the processions and congregations.