Rabiul Awwal procession: Over 28,000 cops to provide security today

KARACHI:

More than 28,000 policemen will be deployed in the city to provide security on the occasion of Rabiul Awwal 12.

Commandos of the Rapid Response Force, Special Security Unit and personnel from the different police training centres, Sindh Reserve Police, Anti-Encroachment Cell and Crime Branch will also be deployed on security duties for nearly 1,115 programmes relating to the celebrations of Rabiul Awwal 12 and 515 processions and rallies.

Apart from these, policemen in nearly 571 police mobiles and on 574 motorcycles will also perform security duty. The SHOs of the relevant police stations have been asked to conduct extra patrolling and routine checking in their respective areas. Buildings, houses and shops, which are located on the routes of the main processions, have already been scrutinised for security purpose.

A police statement issued on Wednesday said that Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali also directed that extraordinary security measures be taken in the province, particularly Karachi, on Rabiul Awwal 12. He also instructed that technical sweeping and the process of clearance should be done before the day to avoid any untoward incident. The statement further said that IG Jamali also instructed that random routine checking be also carried out and there should be patrolling as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2015.