Police in the twin cities will be on high alert during Eidul Fitr, with more than 8,000 officials performing security duties in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Special deployments will be made to guard worship places where the public will be offering their morning prayers today as well as to patrol various areas of the city.
According to a press release issued by the Islamabad Police, SSP Muhammad Ali Nekokara finalised the security plan following recommendations from Islamabad IGP Aftab Ahmed Cheema. Nekokara has directed all police officials to remain on high alert and be fully prepared to avert any incident of violence during the long holiday.
More than 4,500 policemen would perform security duties on Eid and guard religious gatherings at open places, mosques and imambargahs in the capital. Police officials have been assigned duties at 667 places out of which 19 are open and 26 are imambargahs. The Bomb Disposal Squad would conduct snap checking at various areas and vehicles will not be allowed to park near worship places or Eid congregations.
As per the official plan, beat systems have been introduced for security at the city’s main shopping centres and markets and an additional deployment of policemen has also been made for Chand Raat. Contingents of the mobile reserve police and prisoner van movements would be part of security measures at important public places, including Jinnah Super, Super Market, F-10 Markaz and Aabpara.
All SHOs had already received orders to conduct security meetings with managers of bus stands after which special police pickets were erected to check passengers going home.
The security plan also involves officials of Pakistan Rangers and police commandoes in assisting the police.
The SSP has issued special directions for vehicles of all police stations, CRT, Falcon and Bravo squads to patrol in their respective areas while additional vehicles have been also provided to every police station.
In view of a rush of visitors at public places, special measures have been taken at Shakarparian, Daman-e-Koh, Yasmin Garden, Monal, Lake View Park, Chattar Park and Centaurus Mall.
The press release quoted SSP (Traffic) Asmat Ullah Junejo saying that traffic cops’ deployment in shopping areas, markets, public places, Islamabad Expressway and Jinnah Avenue will be augmented while patrol cars will move in their respective areas to facilitate the general public.
Pindi’s plan
Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, police and Rescue 1122 have finalised arrangements for Eidul Fitr with some 4,000 police personnel, including official of the Elite Force, special branch and volunteers, guarding the lives and property of the public on the festive occasion.
City Police Officer Hamayoun Bashir Tarar has ordered foolproof security for prayer congregations, with holidays of policemen being cancelled and deployment of additional forces at sensitive areas, graveyards, mosques, eidgahs, imambargahs and picnic points.
A police spokesman said 2,300 policemen have been deployed at all sensitive places, including bazaars and shopping malls, to maintain law and order in the garrison city. Officials of the Special Branch, Elite Force, Ladies Police, Muhafiz Force and Police Qaumi Razakars would also perform security duty, he added.
The spokesman urged citizens to inform police of any suspicious activity.
Rawalpindi’s City Traffic Police have chalked out a comprehensive plan for Chand Raat and Eid. An enhanced number of traffic wardens have been deployed in the city’s main areas to control traffic on Chand Raat and during Eid prayers. A control room has also been set up at the Traffic Police Headquarters to monitor the situation. Chief Traffic Officer SSP Shoaib Khurram Janbaz told APP all out efforts would be made to control traffic, especially on Chand Raat. He said one-wheelers would be dealt with in accordance with the law, adding that wardens had been directed to impound motorcycles of one-wheelers at the respective police stations.
All traffic officers and wardens have been directed to remain at their duty points so no traffic jam occurs, he said, adding that parking of vehicles near mosques, imambargahs and other religious places would not be allowed.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2014.
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