Over 5,000 personnel ensure safe Muharram

Islamabad Police have finalised a comprehensive security arrangements for the processions, religious gatherings during Muharram ul Harram and decided to launch combing and search operations in various slum areas of the city including Afghan habitats to ensure fool proof security.
The formal approval of this plan was given in a meeting presided by Inspector General of Police Islamabad Bani Amin Khan after its thorough review of plan. The meeting was attended by DIG (Headquarters) Dr Sultan Azam Temuri, DIG (Security) Ahmed Mukaram, SSP Islamabad Yaseen Farooq, SSP Headquarters Malik Yousuf, SSP (Security) Mir Vais Niaz, SSP (Traffic) Dr. Meen Masood, al SPs SDPOs, SHOs and relvant police officials.
The IGP directed all wings of Islamabad police to ensure complete coordination for success of this plan.
The IGP directed all SDPOs and SHOs to launch effective search operation as well as combing activities in the slum areas of the city including Afghan habitats and enhance vigilance at all entrance points of the city. He asked SSP (Operation) to himself monitor this search operation while relevant SPs have been also asked to inform his office on daily basis about progress in this regard.
He also directed to maintain close liaison with peace committees and organisers of Majalis and processions. He said that cooperation of organisers should be ensured with the police and
law enforcing officials.
A total of 909 religious gatherings (Majalis) and 177 processions (159 traditional and 18 licensed) will be held. The religious gatherings have been divided into three categories as per security aspect and 144 Majalis have been placed in Category A, 470 in Category B, 295 in Category C while 14 processions have been put in Category A, 88 in Category B and 75 in Category C.
The IGP directed for strict security arrangements on these occasions and special checking of participants. He said that special arrangements should be made for checking of `burqa-clad’ women participants in a prestigious way and to install walk through gates at the entrance points of Majalis.
He said that it should be ensured to make arrangements for checking of participants of Majalis and processions thorough using metal detectors. Strict vigilance should be maintained to ensure that security measures are in place by the police as well as peace committees, the IGP maintained.
Rangers and FC will also assist Islamabad police to ensure elaborate security arrangements. The IGP also ordered all SHOs to make proper light arrangements after negotiations with concerned authorities and also to weed out bushes in the various areas in the vicinity of worship places.
He said that it should be ensured that processions will pass through the fixed routes and timings of processions to be observed strictly. The IGP also directed for effective patrolling and use commando vehicles for the purpose.
The IGP directed for maintaining close coordination among all wings of Islamabad police and staff. The IGP asked SSP (Traffic) to ensure arrangements for avoiding any inconvenience to road users and special deployment should be made for smooth flow of traffic at alternate routes when processions will be carried out. It should be ensured that Parking lots to be far away from the processions with proper security arrangements there and metal detectors would be used at entry and exit points too.
He said that walk through gates must be installed at all entry and exit points of Majalis and processions and it should be covered through large strength of policemen.He also asked all SPs, SDPOs to take steps to curb wall chalking or pasting posters which may hurt sentiments of people.
Patrolling officers must conduct visit of all the routes of Muharram processions and Imambargahs and rooftops to be covered by the police officials. The IGP said that lady Police should be deputed for the female gatherings while police officers and Jawans would perform security duties outside the Imambargahs.
All Station House Officers (SHOs) should get the complete bio-data of those volunteers performing security duties. Peace committees would be asked to ensure that no stranger is allowed to stay in the worship places for security reasons during the month of Muharram.
It will be also mandatory for the participants and organizers of the processions to get clearance certificates from the concerned police station before its start as a part of effective security measure. It has been also directed for strict vigilance of those persons deputed special security duties while movement of specific religious leaders will be also monitored.