Security concerns: Mosque administrators to get arms licences

The authorities cannot secure each and every mosque, hence, mosques are being allowed to hire own security guards

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi has said that mosques and imambargahs will be issued arms licences to allow them to keep arms and guards to secure themselves.

He acknowledged that due to the dearth of police personnel and resources, the authorities cannot secure each and every mosque, hence, mosques are being allowed to hire their own security guards.

While speaking to a delegation of the district peace committee at Police Lines No. 1, the CPO said that mosques will not be allowed to misuse loudspeakers.

He added that mosque pulpits should also be used to educate masses especially the landlords who rent out their houses to tenants about the rent act and submission of relevant documents with the police so that suspected militants could be denied accommodation in their neighbourhoods. The police official urged the peace committee to play its active role in this regard.

He said the police have launched a major crackdown on clerics involved in delivering hate speech since the National Action Plan was approved.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2015.