Today marks the martyrdom of one of the greatest ambassadors of Islam, Hazrat Ali (AS). The procession for the martyrdom anniversary of Hazarat Ali (AS) will take place today. It will start from Mubarak Lal Hawali at 9am and take its old routes to end at Bhatti Gate’s Karabla Gamay Shah at 6 pm.
The security high-up’s have assured of foolproof security for the event.
PUNJAB IG BRIEFS SHIA DELEGATION:
Punjab Police Inspector General Khan Baig said that 78,000 police officials would be deployed across the province. 11,000 constables, 500 lady constables and Commandos would be appointed on the routes of the procession in Lahore and 10 walk through gates were installed at various exit and entrance points. Security in Lahore would be on high alert, especially all entrance points of the 12 Gates of Walled city and the interior Mouchi Gate. All Security arrangements for the Chehlum of Hazrat Ali (RA) were finalised and the standard operating procedures for the 10th of Muharram would be followed in this regard because the protection of each Azadar and the maintenance of sectarian harmony was a primary responsibility of the police, he added. He said that Rescue 1122 vehicles, fire brigades and bomb disposal squads would also be on high alert throughout the day.
Baig said that Rangers would be called if needed and added that every car (including police vehicles) would be inspected before letting them pass through. This had been done due to the incident that occurred in Dera Ismail Khan last night, where terrorists wearing police uniforms easily entered a Jail and freed many criminals. Baig met with an 11 member delegation of the Shia Community at Punjab’s CPO. The delegation led by Al Haj Haider Ali Mirza also included Agha Abbas, Allama Syed Waqar-ul-Hussain Naqvi, Afsar Hussain Khan, Syed Hussnain Zaidi, Syed Asad Abbas Naqvi, Syed Sadat Abbas Naqvi, Syed Khurram Abbas Naqvi, Syed Akhter Abbas Bukhari, Rana Muhammad Aslam and Syed Sadiq Haider.
Baig expected the volunteers of the community to collaborate with the police to get favorable results. Members of the delegation told Baig that approximately 700 Razakars of the community had already been deputed for the purpose.
Baig also directed the field police officers to enhance the security arrangements in sensitive areas of the province especially in Lahore, Pindi Bhattian and Hafizabad. He also directed the officers that special security officials should be deployed at all the entry and exit points of the processions. Furthermore, he revealed that sniffer dogs and jammers could also be used.
DCO VISITS YOUM-E-ALI PROCESSION ROUTE: Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) Naseem Sadiq on Tuesday visited the route of 21st Ramazan’s procession of Shahadat-e-Hazrat Ali (RA) and inspected the entire security arrangements. Officials of the the Lahore District Government were also present at the occasion. While taking to Shia leaders, Sadiq revealed that various outstanding measures had been taken and police personnel and volunteers of the civil defence and Shia organisations would perform their duties on sensitive points to avoid any untoward incident.
Moreover Sadiq also issued a duty roster of the officials for the procession. Model Town and Raiwind’s Assistant Commissioners would perform their duties at the start and end of the procession, respectively. Lahore’s Assistant Commissioner’s duty was of coordination while the Shalimar Assistant Commissioner would execute his responsibilities at the entrance and exit of procession, he said. The Sub Registrar would perform his duty at a hospital established at the Central Model School while one officer would be present in each hospital of the city, he added.
Reports said that the Federal government and the Interior Ministry acquired information that many suicide bombers had already entered Lahore, for which officials had been conducting search operations since the past two weeks in which 400 suspects from across the city were apprehended and later released after completing initial investigation. No suicide bomber had been arrested till now.