Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ahmad Raza Tahir on Saturday directed the Lahore Police to keep special security arrangements for the Zakireen and Ulema during Muharam-ul-Haram during their Majalis.
In his order, the CCPO directed to ensure the strict implementation of a 3-layered comprehensive checking, in order to provide foolproof security to the Moharram processions. The traffic and Thana police have been directed to jointly ensure the comprehensive checking and screening of all vehicles, motorcycles and rickshaws. The CCPO said that the Muharram processions should be provided security from each side, including the rooftops, besides blocking all routes, side lanes and roads with barbed wire. He said that patrolling system should be made even more effective to protect all the sensitive places. The CCPO directed that presence of the bomb disposal squads, along with the members of Mohalla and peace committees, ought to be ensured.
The CCPO further directed that foolproof security arrangements should be made, especially at the Majalis for women with the help of the Ladies Police. He also ordered the City Traffic Police to make sure that citizens should be provided an alternate route if any road is temporarily shutdown in view of security arrangements, adding that alert wardens should be deputed at such places for the smooth flow of traffic. He said that all the entry and exit points of the venues of the Majalis will be covered and roof top deployment will be made at the Imam Bargahs, venues of the Majalis and routes of the processions. He directed that parking be made at a safe distance, preferably 200 metres, from the venues of the Majalis and processions.
The CCPO said that police officers and over 12,000 police Jawans would provide security cover to 4,000 Majalis and 640 processions, while armed personnel would also be deputed to provide security to various programmes, to be held on a daily basis. He said that 134 mobile squads, 85 motor bikes, 75 cars and 11 cars of the Elite Force would also be deployed on this occasion. Similarly, Lahore Police force would provide security cover to 297 Imam Bargahas and 787 Mosques falling on the routes of the processions. Ahmad Raza Tahir said that the code of conduct would be strictly implemented during Muharram-ul-Harram and 1,068 members of the District Peace Committee would be present on the routes of the processions and Majalis. In his order, the CCPO further directed the Lahore Police to ensure that there is no impediment in the flow of the Muharram processions, for which special traffic plan has been evolved by the traffic authorities. He said that metal detectors and walk-through gates should also be used at all entry points in order to search every person, while police officials should be briefed regarding the sensitive places to deal with any untoward incident.
