Punjab police devises security plan

Four-layered security arrangements are being made

LAHORE: The Punjab police have devised a comprehensive plan to provide security to 1,620 majalis and mourning processions on Youm-e-Shahdat Hazrat Ali (RA) which will be observed on 21st Ramazan.

According to the plan, a four-layered security plan will be put in place after coordination with locals and majalis orgainsers.

The plan was devised during an RPO Conference chaired by Punjab Inspector General of Police Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz Khan at the Central Police Office on Thursday.

Khan directed field officers to take all possible steps and utilise available resources for the security of 1,620 majalis and mourning processions. He also asked them to pay special attention to the security plan of Youm-e-Ali under the supervision of DPOs. He ordered a four-tiered security plan for sensitive districts and their "A" category processions.



He said that no mourners should be allowed to enter into procession without being checked at walkthrough gates or by metal detectors. He added that the security of markets, banks, and shopping centers has been beefed up in the last decade during Ramazan, while the patrol timings of the Dolphin Squad and other forces must be increased to control street crimes.

Talking about the increasing crime rate in the city, Khan urged respective RPOs and DPOs to take strict action and detain criminals and gangs involved in such cases. He said that search, sweep and combing operations should be boosted along with an increase in patrolling around crime-affected areas.

The additional IG operations Aamir Zulfiqar Khan told the IGP, during the conference, that more than 40,000 police officers, officials and volunteers will perform their duties throughout the province on Youm-e-Ali. Around 261 walk-through gates, 5,382 metal detectors and 996 CCTV cameras will be installed for the monitoring of processions and majalis.

CCPO Lahore and all the RPOs the briefed IGP on the security plan for Youm-e-Ali and Jummatul Wida in their districts and regions.

They said that steps were taken for the safety and security of citizens and this task was completed under the supervision of senior officers.

He added that the patrolling hours of the Dolphin Squad and patrolling force should be increased in markets and sensitive areas. He ordered senior officers to monitor measures taken for traffic management and to maintain a strict check on all types of activities.

Khan said security details for VIPs should be according to SOPs and the security mechanism at districts courts of the province must be improved. “No one should be allowed to enter the court premises without a complete body search.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2018.