Foolproof measures: Province gears up to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi

Mammoth public rally expected at Faisalabad’s Clock Tower Chowk

BAHAWALPUR/ MULTAN/ FAISALABAD:

Religious sites and buildings of public and private departments across Faisalabad have been bedecked in the run up to Eid Miladun Nabi.

In this connection, proceedings will commence with the offering of special prayers and salutations on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after Fajr. Commemorative processions will be later taken out at multiple locations across the city. All processions will ultimately merge into the chief procession that begins from the darbar of Allama Sardar Ahmad Qadri Rizvi.

A large number of citizens are expected to partake in the festivities. They are expected to carry placards, recite salutations and raise slogans as they move towards Clock Tower Chowk. The Markazi Milad Committee will organise a mammoth public gathering at the venue.

Police have made foolproof security arrangements in this regard. All security arrangements for Eid Milad have been completed across the district—Bahawalpur DPO Sarfaraz Ahmad Falki

been deputed to maintain public order and ensure the safe passage of Eid Milad. A traffic plan has also been formulated and proliferated to facilitate smooth flow of traffic and processions.

Foolproof security across Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur DPO Sarfaraz Ahmad Falki said on Tuesday that all security arrangements for Eid Milad had been completed across the district.

Falki said 63 mehafil-i-naat, 71 milad processions and two conferences would be organised district-wide on the occasion. He said over 2,000 policemen would be deployed to secure the district in this regard. Falki said foolproof arrangements had been made and all emergency departments had been placed on high alert. He said Special Branch personnel had been directed to constantly monitor proceedings and scour processions.

The DPO said all processions and mehafils had been grouped into three distinct categories in accordance with their perceived sensitivity. Of these, he said, five processions and mehafils had been declared extremely sensitive.  Falki said no individual would be allowed to enter mehafil venues without being thoroughly frisked. He said all proceedings would be monitored through CCTV cameras and inspected through technical sweeping.

Falki said walkthrough gates would be installed on venues’ entrances and those wishing to join muhafils and processions would be frisked by policemen with metal detectors. He said processions’ routes would be secured by placing barbed wire along them. Falki said police personnel would be deployed across all major landmarks along processions’ routes.

The DPO said a control room had also been established to monitor proceedings. Falki said all officials should strive to ensure the safe passage of Eid Milad. He said all SPs and SHOs should make sure that police personnel arrive at their designated posts well before time and effectively discharge their duties.

Preparations in Khanewal

Preparations to mark Eid Milad with traditional zeal and reverence are in full swing in Multan and Khanewal.

Buildings and streets have been illuminated with fairy lights and placards eulogising the Prophet (PBUH) have been put up across thoroughfares. Police told The Express Tribune that foolproof security measures had been taken on the eve of Eid Milad.

Officials said special police teams had been constitute to ensure the safe passage of Eid Milad in Khanewal. Khanewal DPO Jehanzeb Khan said Section-144 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) had been imposed across the city. He said strict action would be taken against those found flouting the ban. The DPO directed officials to ensure that CCTV cameras were installed across Khanewal to monitor proceedings. He said no negligence would be tolerated with regard to the provision of foolproof security.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2015.