2,000 security personnel to be deployed in Ramazan

Special cleanup operation to be launched against professional beggars

ISLAMABAD: As many as 2,000 security personnel, including policemen, security guards and volunteers, will guard religious and sensitive installations during the holy month of Ramazan.

This was decided in an elaborate security plan chalked out for the city following directions from Inspector General of Islamabad Police Dr Sultan Azam Temuri.

SSP Islamabad Najeebur Rehman Bugvi’s elaborate security plan will see 2,000 men guard 975 mosques and 33 imambargahs in the city. Police officials, security guards and volunteers will be deployed outside worship places for the security.

Moreover, SSP Bugvi has directed that only one gate — for entry and exit — will be open for granting access to worship places. Mosque committees have been tasked with checking the faithful with metal detectors and to deploy private security guards for this purpose. These security arrangements shall be supervised by respective SPs while SDPOs and SHOs would conduct security checks, especially at the time of prayer.

For this purpose, police have summoned reinforcements from the Police Line Headquarters. These officers will boost the strength of different police stations to ensure effective security at worship places.

Police stations have been further directed to coordinate with office bearers of the respective trade union in their respective areas to ensure effective security at markets.

The holy month will also see a special clean-up operation conducted by the police to remove “professional beggars”. Under the drive, beggars will not be allowed to gather outside worship places. Moreover, mosque committees have been requested not to allow any stranger or outsider to stay in worship places.

Police officials have been directed to carry out special checks of all hotels, motels, inns and guest houses for security purposes.

Meanwhile, property dealers would be also directed to furnish the record of tenants to the SHOs of their respective areas. Moreover checking at the exit and entry points may be intensified without causing any embarrassment to the citizens.

Patrols from various police stations, squads of Pakistan Rangers and Muhafiz force would patrol in their respective areas to maintain high vigilance.

IGP Islamabad Dr Temuri and SSP Bugvi have said that they will check the duties of police officials at various points.

All the SDPOs and SHO s have been directed to personally supervise the security arrangements during Ramazan and ensure the deployment of police officials or private security guards where it was necessary and in this regard, no laxity shall be tolerated.

SSP Islamabad has directed police officials to brief the policemen deputed for security purpose and maintain high vigilance.

He also ordered for strict security at entry and exit points of the city and keep strict monitoring of those coming to the city or leaving it.

The SSP has asked SHOs to brief people in their areas to properly lock their houses during prayers and keep the lights on during this time. He also directed for effective patrolling in their respective areas and also appealed to citizens to inform police or Rescue 15 in case of any suspicious activity around them.

The SSP has also categorically said that no laxity will be tolerated by any official in performing their duties.

Cops are humans too

Police officers deputed to provide security at worship places, particularly during the sehri and iftar times are often caught between the need to eat before keeping their fast or after breaking it and to do their duty.

Such officials, SSP Bugvi has said, will have their `Iftar’ with other personnel performing duties at various points.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2018.