LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Tahir on Wednesday said that the department would remain on high alert to ensure a peaceful environment across the province on Ashura.
Chairing high-level meetings during his visit to Faisalabad and Sargodha districts, he ordered strict screening and checking along the routes of central processions on 9th and 10th of Muharram through bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs of the special branch.
Tahir also directed to make parking arrangements at least 100 feet away from mosques and Imambarghas and ordered the officials to utilise all available resources for the provision of fool-proof security. He further directed to expedite the search, sweep, combing and intelligence-based operations in the vicinity of processions, majalis and Imambargahs of sensitive districts.
The police chief ordered the RPOs to ensure four-tier security as per the defined SOPs for sensitive processions and said that plainclothes commandos should also be deployed. He emphasised that no person should be allowed to enter processions without checking and said that a strict action would be taken against those who were found negligent towards their duty.
“It is the prime responsibility of the police to ensure a peaceful environment and provision of safety and security to the lives and properties of people and I believe that police officers and officials will perform their duties with honesty and rigor.”
Strict implementation of the loudspeaker act, ban on wall-chalking, and aerial firing was also directed by the IGP.