LAHORE: Around 7,000 security personnel will secure the Rawind Tablighi Ijtema, which is scheduled to start on November 17, while a thousand traffic wardens will be deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Walkthrough gates, search lights, CCTV cameras and police posts have already been set up around the Raiwind Markaz. Traffic police have established 11 parking areas to be administered by the town municipal administration though a token system. Twenty checkpoints for vehicles have been established on the outskirts of the ijtema venue. Traffic police will block Rawind Road for five hours from 10am, on November 20 and November 27, but no roads will be blocked for general traffic otherwise.
Superintendent of Police Shoaib Khurram Janbaz told The Express Tribune that “foolproof” security would be maintained at the venue for both sessions, which run from November 17 to 20 and November 24 to 27. He said that around 1,700 police officers would be deployed around the Ijtema while 12 Elite Force cars and 26 pairs of bikers would patrol the venue. Around 450 personnel of the Counter Terrorism Unit and other agencies would remain inside in the Ijtema along with police personnel in civvies.
He said that 5,000 razakars, or volunteers, would also maintain security inside the ijtema. He said that scaffolding had been put in place around walkthrough gates to ensure that people queued up in orderly fashion. He said that the police picked up around 220 people in a security sweep on Sunday night and released them after collecting their details. He said that around 350 people had been picked up and their particulars recorded in Sadar division alone. He said that owners of houses, shops and guesthouses in the area had signed undertakings pledging not to host any guests during the ijtema.
Sadar Circle Traffic Deputy Superintendent of Police Malik Akram said that on the two days Raiwind Road is blocked, motorists should use Shaukat Khanum Road to Wapda Town, onwards to Valencia Town and to Kacha Phattak, while traffic from the Canal should go towards Chungh using the flyover.
He said that some 1,000 wardens, 500 per shift, would work on the days of the ijtema, while 1,000 wardens would do double shifts on November 20 and 27. He said that the Saddar Traffic SP and Sheikhupura SP would command 14 DSPs. He said that since the parking plots were in low-lying areas, ramps had been built where vehicles could enter and exit from. He said that the parking areas were less than 150 metres from the venue.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ahmad Raza Tahir told Shia ulema that Lahore police would remain on high alert during the ijtema and Muharram, said a press release. He warned that anyone planning events for Muharram should gain clearance from the police in advance, otherwise they would be arrested.
He said that a comprehensive security plan had been chalked out in consultation with various sects and 184 potential trouble points had been identified in the city. He said that parking areas would be set up at least 200 metres from majalis and processions.
The city’s police chief said that more than 12,000 police jawans would be on security duty during the Raiwind Tablighi Ijtema, as well as during Muharram at 4,000 majalis and 640 processions. He said that 134 vans, 85 motorbikes, 75 cars and 11 Elite Force cars would also be deployed. Lahore police would provide security for 297 Imambargahs and 787 mosques on the routes of processions.
The CCPO appealed to Shia ulema to restrict the use of loudspeakers and emphasise peace in their speeches. He said that a code of conduct would be strictly implemented during Muharram and 1,068 members of the District Peace Committee would be at the routes of processions and majalis. He said that all entrances and exits to majlis venues would be covered and police would be deployed on roof tops at imambargahs, majalis and procession routes.
(Read: Malik’s remarks - Sharifs defend Tableeghi Jamaat)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2011.
COMMENTS (5)
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Why do they go there to ask from Allah something that they can ask at home and at any place,I think there is no place better than a mosque and own home for muslims to ask whatever they want from Allah He listens every call but doesn't accept all.Is home of a Muslim a qabrastan? .Has Allah said that he will listen only in RAIWIND, and no places else so try every year?.The fact is that they know to do everchanging religious experiments,they even leave sick families behind,who need their help in emergency.Why cant they go to the places where cruel against - islamic practices like karo kari, wanni. are being practiced since centuries.Where there are "private jails" of lords Why cant they have a heart to go to theTaliban to reprimand them not to kill innocent people, .Have they asked the Taliban what they do for a living.where do they work how they provide their families.and dependants.If this this a tablighi ijtima then whom they tabligh, ain't they all Muslims.There are places in Pakistan where illeterate people even dont know how to say Namaz e janaza, if someone dies, most of them dont know how to perform vazu much less namaz.why their AMEER" dont ask them to go there Gathering somewhere for some jenuine reasons is not prohibited by any power , they can gather every week in their Muhalla Park, make some decent pledges, like they will take care for each other help the needy, keep their areas and homes clean as "CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS", submit zakat as per Islamic rules. Never slaughter animals in front of homes, streets, on Eid ul Azha.except in allocated areas away from residential areas. Most of all they will not be prejudiced to anyone.
Mashallah very emaan afroz ijtama.
Flame me all you want but not all that comes out of this place is 'clean' and 'holy'.
And with the 7000 security personell, combined may get the IQ level of a university graduate. We need more educated people in the force rather than just numbers.
May Allah bless them..