As many as 10,000 personnel of Islamabad Police and Pakistan Rangers will perform security duties during Muharram and to maintain high vigilance to thwart any untoward incident.
Islamabad Police have finalised comprehensive security arrangements for the processions, religious gatherings during Muharram and decided to launch combing as well as search operations in various slum areas of the city including Afghan habitats to ensure fool proof security.
This plan has been prepared by SSP Islamabad Sajid Kiani keeping in view National Action Plan following directions of IGP Islamabad Tahir Alam Khan. All wings of Islamabad Police have been also given directions to ensure complete coordination for success of this plan.
As per strategy, activities of people being put under surveillance following fourth schedule will be strictly monitored. Similarly, those scholars or persons from defunct organizations banned to enter in Islamabad would not be allowed at any cost to participate in kind of activity.
The SSP has 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 and 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 122 Majalis have been placed in Category A, 492 in Category B and 295 in Category C while 14 processions have been put in Category A, 91 in Category B and 72 in Category C.
The SSP has directed for strict security arrangements on these occasions and special checking of participants.
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 SSP maintained.
Rangers will also assist Islamabad Police to ensure elaborate security arrangements. The SSP 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. He has also directed for effective patrolling and use of 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.
The SSP has 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.
