Tableeghi Ijtimah concludes peacefully

About 300,000 people from across country took part.

LAHORE: The second phase of Ijtama of the Tableeghi Jamaat concluded peacefully on Sunday.

However, a massive traffic jam was witnessed for at least four hours on Multan and Raiwind Road when the participants were leaving for their homes.



The three-day ijtima started on November 9 (Thursday). People from various parts of the country, including Murdan, Kohat, Gilgit, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Balakot, Dargai, Sawabi, Chhota Lahore, Kohistan, Hangu, and Aurakazai took part in the congregation.

It concluded after dua by Tableeghi Jamaat leader Haji Abdul Wahab at 9.30am. On the last day, Maulana Jameel Ahmad, Maulana Ubaidullah, and Maulana Ubaiadullah Khursheed delivered the sermons after Fajr prayers and concluded before the dua by Haji Abdul Wahab.

Strict security arrangements were made on the occasion. About 1,000 police officials under the supervision of one SP, four DSPs, 11 SHOs, 15 sub-inspectors, 51 ASIs were on duty. Six vehicles of the elite force, six vehicles of local police were also deployed. At least 24 CCTV cameras were installed and 19 bio-metric machines for verification.

According to an official estimate, around 300,000 people attended the dua. When they started leaving for their destinations, massive traffic congestion was observed on Multan Road, Ferozpur Road, and Raiwind Road. All the roads leading towards Raiwind were closed for traffic.



It took at least four hours to City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) to clear the traffic load as they had made a comprehensive traffic plan to deal with the traffic. Vehicles were parked at 15 different points. Firstly, the CTPL got parking stands of motorcycles and rickshaws evacuated. In the second phase, parking stands of vans were allowed to leave and lastly, parking stands of buses and other heavy vehicles were allowed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2017.