Law and order: Stringent security cover for PAT sit-in

LAHORE: Police said on Friday they had made a three-tier security plan for the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) sit-in at Charing Cross on The Mall.

The venue in front of the Provincial Assembly had been secured using barbed wires. Participants of the demonstration were first frisked manually and then using metal detectors and walkthrough gates. A compartment had been set up to frisk women. Police in plainclothes, too, were deployed.

Snipers were deployed on nearby buildings. The participants were allowed to approach the venue from Lahore High Court side.

Teams of Dolphin Squad, Elite Force, Police Response Unit and Quick Response Unit patrolled the area. A Command and Control Room at Operations DIG’s office monitored the arrangements.

Chief Traffic Police Officer Tayyab Hafeez Cheema said they had devised a special plan to manage traffic in areas near the sit-in venue. He said 11 diversions were created as part of the plan. The CTO said nine DSPs, 46 inspectors, 97 patrolling officers, two special squads and 663 traffic wardens would be on duty in three shifts.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2016.