In the wake of recent terror threat, the Lahore Police has restricted the entry of private ambulances during mourning procession on the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and on the Urs of Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh (RA).
Well placed sources in security branch of Lahore Police told Pakistan Today on Wednesday that that Lahore Police has been directed to keep private ambulances away from the venue. Sources said the decision was made by the top cops in order to avoid any terrorist attack on the procession and at Data Darbar on January 15. Sources said the top cops had received some unconfirmed reports that terrorist attacks on the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and on the Urs of Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh (RA) could be carried out using private ambulances.
Sources told that top cops of Lahore Police in order to stop terrorists from carrying out any terrorist activity, have directed their subordinates to keep a vigilant look out on the entry of suspicious ambulances in the city. Top cops have also directed policemen deputed at entry exit points to check every private ambulance individually so that terrorists do not sneak into the city using different vans that resemble ambulances.
The officers have also been asked to ignore the problems that any patient could face if such a scenario were to emerge and to ensure that the vans were checked thoroughly.
Members of Shia Sects involved in making security arrangements for holding peaceful processions on the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) told Pakistan Today that Lahore Police had also directed volunteers of Haidriya Scouts and Mukhtar Force to keep an eye on ambulances.
Sources said police officials have also directed members of Sunni Tehreek to remain vigilant and check every suspicious vehicles trying to entering in the procession of Urs venue in the guise of ambulance.
Sources in Lahore Police said the decision could be a result of failed efforts of Lahore Police in tracing an ambulance of Ammar Hospital which was lifted by unknown criminals from the hospital in October 2011. Sources said police officials attached with security wing were quite conscious about the missing dumper of WASA too that was also lifted by the robbers back in year 2011 and was not traced or recovered by the police investigators.
Earlier Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ahmad Raza Tahir said the Lahore Police would remain on high alert in order to maintain peaceful atmosphere and harmony in the provincial metropolis while more than 5,000 police Jawans would provide security cover, while armed personnels would also be deputed to ensure peace. CCPO ordered special surveillance and checking of all hotels, inns and bus and wagon stands to ward off any possibility of subversion and to ensure law and order on the occasions of the chelum and the urs. Tahir also directed that all entry and exit points of the city will be covered and roof top deployment will be made on different routes. Tahir directed that parking be made at a safe distance, preferably 200 meter, from the venue of the processions and the urs, whereas mobile squads, motor bikes and cars of Elite Force would also be deployed on these occasions. CCPO said the crises management centres had also been established in the city, which would function round the clock, while a special control room had also been set up in the office of CCPO for coordination between various agencies.