“I would not be able to celebrate this Eid too with my family and friends due to my duty,” said a police constable deputed outside the residence of a former judge in Lahore.
Like many other policemen, Rana Rizwan will not be able to spend Eid holidays with his family and friends.
“I also wish to join my family members on this religious festival, but I have no other choice,” he said.
Rizwan, who belongs to a village of Kasur district, is among thousands of other police personnel who will remain away from their homes on the festive of Eidul Fitr.
He said he was deputed here six months ago, but he celebrated his Eids in different places in Lahore for many years.
Another constable, Usman, who stood outside a mosque in Johar Town will also spend his Eid away from home. He said his family members, friends and neighbours would be enjoying the flavours of Eid but he had no other option except to miss them. He lamented that his department never treated them well and they were provided with unhygienic food.
Usman said that “we guard people after putting our lives on stack, but they don’t feel necessary to greet us after Eid prayer. Sometimes people greet us and also offer us food while on duty.”
A statement issued by the Lahore Police said that at least 8,000 police personal will be deployed in the city while Dolphin police squads, Police Response Unit and Mujahid Squad will patrol markets across the city. It said that police commandos and personnel in plain clothes would also be on duty.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ameen Wains has ordered all divisional superintendents of police (SPs) to ensure foolproof security for parks and graveyards.
According to an estimate around 5 million people leave Lahore for their native homes on the festival of Eid. Such people are here in Lahore for their jobs, business purposes or students of different educational institutes of the city. But the people who are guarding the masses
Other than employees of police department, a large number of private security guards will also spend Eid in Lahore, away from their dear ones.
Ishtiaq is one of among eight security guards of a private security company who are hired by a private housing society, will also spend Eid in Lahore away from his home.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Ishtiaq said that they also wish to spend this day with their family. “I miss my mother and father who are always waiting for me. Residents of society arrange food for them but I miss the food of home”.
