LAHORE: The law enforcement agencies have declared around 264 Eid prayer gatherings as sensitive, sources told Pakistan Today on Monday. Gatherings of the barelvi sect and several shrines have been marked as possible targets for terrorist attacks on Eidul Azha.
According to police sources, Lahoris would offer Eid prayers at around 3,394 places in different parts of the provincial metropolis. According to sources, Eid prayers would be offered in the open at 54 places including parks and grounds.
The 3,394 places would also include gatherings of Ahmedis due to which intelligence agencies have warned the Punjab and Lahore Police to make extra security arrangements to secure the 264 sensitive places.
According to intelligence agencies sources, terrorists had targeted gatherings of shias in Lahore but this time, they might target the bralevis and shrines of saints.
According to sources, the shrine of Bibi Pakdamin in Garhi Shahu could be considered as a high profile target of terrorists, as they had threatened to target the shrine many times.
According to sources, gatherings of shias on 10th Zilhaj have been declared sensitive and Lahore Police have been directed to ensure extra security arrangements for such gatherings.
Talking to journalists, acting Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) DIG Rao Sardar Ali Khan said that Lahore Police have received some reports about suspected terrorist attacks in the city on the eve of Eidul Azha. He said that according to reports, few religious and political personalities were on the hit list of terrorists.
Sardar said that police have finalised a foolproof security plan to avoid any untoward incident during Eid and Lahore Police would depute security personnel in three different layers in order to combat terrorism.
He said that around 10,000 policemen and 10 units of the Quick Response Force (QRF) would be deployed at various points of Lahore to ensure peace and harmony on the occasion of Eidul Azha.
Sardar said that SHOs have been directed to arrange a list of volunteers to be deployed along with policemen for security of mosques, Eidgahs and imambargahs during Eid prayers.
“Temporary protection walls or barbed wires would be installed around public places selected for Eid congregations and police would ensure one entry and exit point to eliminate chances of any terrorist attack,” he said.
