MMA flexes muscles amid tight security

Venue was cordoned off with barbed wire, tents and barricades

LAHORE: Strict security measures were made on Sunday on the occasion of a public gathering of the recently revived Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a political alliance of different religious parties established in 2001 after Musharraf had taken over the rein of the government.

Under the beefed-up security plan, at least 2,000 police officials were deployed to maintain three-layered security under the supervision of three superintendents of police. The venue was cordoned off with barbed wires, tents and barricades. Entry to the participants was allowed from three points. One point was specified for VIP movement and two points for the participants. The participants were allowed entry after physical frisking, passing through metal detectors and checking with metal detectors. Women police officials and separate cabins were specified for checking of women participants.



Under the enhanced security plan, men in civvies were also deployed to keep an eye on any suspicious person or activity. The venue and surrounding were as being monitored through CCTV cameras of Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA). The park was cleared through sniffers dogs, bomb disposal squad and the personnel of special branch before the start of the public gathering. Teams of Police Response Unit (PRU) and Dolphin Squad remained on patrolling in the surrounding areas to keep an eye on any suspicious activity.

City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) also devised a comprehensive traffic plan to maintain the flow of traffic on the occasion. At least 700 traffic wardens under the supervision of 71 patrolling officers, 44 senior traffic assistants, 11 DSPs and two SPs were deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Parking was allowed only on specified points. Forestry Department Ravi Road, Greater Iqbal Park, Maulana Ahmad Ali Road, Data Nagar Phattak, Kashmiri Gate, Mochi Gate and Nasir Bagh were specified for parking. Two break-downs and eight fork-lifters were deployed in the surrounding of Minar-e-Pakistan to counter illegal parking.

Traffic wardens were deployed on the important roundabouts in the vicinity of the venue.

The wardens in the city were assigned the duty to guide the participants about the routes towards the venue. Those entering the city were advised to use circular road and ring road to reach the public gathering.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2018.