Ramazan security brings Siyal and Khawaja on the same page

Home minister and IG have yet to meet each other but are making all-out efforts to ensure security

KARACHI: Though Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and provincial police chief Allah Dino Khawaja have differences over powers, they seem to be on the same page when it comes to ensuring security during the month of Ramadan.

The two have yet to meet each other since the home minister assumed charge. However, their agenda is the same when it comes to security and they are holding meetings, though separately, with senior police officials.

On Saturday, Home Minister Siyal asked the Special Branch and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police to raise the standard of intelligence and ensure coordination with the police throughout the province to ensure a peaceful environment during the holy month.



Reviewing the Police Ramazan Contingency Plan, he told the deputy inspector generals (DIGs) to raise Advance Intelligence Collection Network at all the police stations.

"The Advance Collection Units should gather information keeping in view the possible threats in proper coordination with CTD and Special Branch to avoid any untoward incident," said the home minister. He further directed the Karachi AIG and other DIGs for maximum utilisation of available resources. He said the police should work in proper coordination with the Rangers and other intelligence agencies to secure a peaceful environment. "All [the] DIGs, district SSPs and other subordinate officers should ensure their physical presence in their respective jurisdictions from Iftar till Namaz-e-Taraveeh,” he said. “Traffic DIG and Zonal Traffic SSPs should also follow these timings."

Siyal issued directives to the AIG and zonal DIGs of Karachi to ensure random routine checking and picketing in different areas of the city besides extensive patrolling of police mobiles and motorcycles, especially near and around masjids, imambargahs and open spaces where Namaz-e-Taraveeh is scheduled to be offered.



According to the police report, 4,215 masjids and open places for Taraveeh have collectively been enlisted for a fool-proof security cover in Karachi, 1,711 in Hyderabad, 227 in Sukkur, 740 in Larkana, 663 in Mirpurkhas and 720 in Shaheed Benazirabad, respectively.

Similarly, the Sindh IG also held a meeting with senior police officials at the Central Police Office, which was attended by a large number of senior officials, including additional IGs and DIGs from across the province.

The IG was also briefed about the contingency plan. According to a report prepared by Karachi AIG, more than 13,145 police personnel and officials will perform security duty at 4,215 masjids and Taraveeh places in all three zones of Karachi while police personnel would also conduct routine checking in 534 mobile vans and 481 motorcycles.



According to Hyderabad DIG's report, 10,100 policemen would perform security duty for 1,711 masjids and Taraveeh spots while policemen would also conduct routine checking in 334 mobile vans and 203 motorcycles. The Sukkur DIG’s report stated that 1,933 policemen would be deployed on security duty at 227 masjids and Taraveeh places.

Similarly, Larkana DIG’s report stated that 3,810 policemen would be deployed at 740 masjids and Taraveeh places while 192 mobile vans and 109 motorcycles would be used for routine checking.

According to Mirpurkhas DIG’s report, 1,126 policemen would be deployed for 663 masjids and Taraveeh congregations.



In Shaheed Benazirabad, 2,739 policemen would perform security duty for 720 masjids and Taraveeh places. The Sindh IG directed the officials concerned to come up with a fool-proof security mechanism under the contingency plan, adding that Lyari Expressway should be one way for traffic from 4pm from Mauripur to Sohrab Goth.