Security beefed up for processions, majalis today

Streets leading to routes of processions will be sealed off with tents, barbed wires

LAHORE: Lahore police has devised a comprehensive security plan for processions and majalis on Youm-e-Ali on Tuesday (today).

The department would deploy 6,000 police officials to maintain a four-tier security plan on the occasion. The streets and roads leading towards venue and the route for procession would be quarantined with tents, barbed wires and barricades.

The participants would be allowed entry after checking at four different points; frisking, checking with metal detectors and passing through walk-through gates. As many as 340 cameras besides the cameras of Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) would be installed for surveillance of the venue and the route.

The route and venue would be cleared by sniffers dogs, bomb disposal squad and special branch personnel before the start of processions. Snipers would be deployed on nearby buildings to keep an eye on any suspicious person or activity. Men in civvies would also perform duties on the occasion under the plan.



Teams of police response unit (PRU), Dolphin Squad would remain in the nearby areas to respond in case of any untoward incident.

Senior police officers would be monitoring the security arrangements as per plan.

Meanwhile, City Traffic Police Lahore has also chalked out a detailed plan to ensure the smooth and safe flow of vehicles. According to the plan, two SPs, five DSPs, 46 inspectors, 90 women traffic wardens and more the 522 traffic wardens would ill perform their duties along the route of the main procession.

Traffic would be diverted to alternative routes from different points along the course of the main procession. A large number of wardens would be deployed at those points to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

According to Youm-e-Ali procession route, it would start from Walled Akbari Gate, Mubarak Haveli, Chowk Nawab Sahab, Bazar Mochi Gate, Laal Kho, Mughal Haveli, Takia Nathay Shah, Chowk Nawab Sahab, Chohta Mufti Baqir, Purani Kotwali, Chowk Nogaza, Chowk Taranam, Chowk Tibbi, Bazar Hakeema, Onchi Masjid, PS Bhatti Gate, Bhatti Gate and Chowk Bhatti before culminating at Qarbala Gamay Shah.

The participants have been instructed to park their cars and motorcycles at Nasir Bagh, Deputy Commissioner Office, Mochi Gate Bagh, Data Darbar Eye Hospital, Central Model High School, Parking D-Plaza Rang Mahal and Adda Crown.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Traffic Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmad directed traffic wardens to keep an eye on suspicious vehicles and persons while performing their duties in the field. “People can get any further information through Rasta Android app, Radio FM-88.6 and police helpline 15.”

Special parking lots have been arranged at seven different points for participants of the Youm-e-Ali procession,” he said.

The traffic diversion points on the route of the main procession would be Akbari Gate, Bagh Ali, Chuna Mandi, Shah Alam Market Chowk, Peer Makki, Mori Gate, Punj Peer, Zilla Katchery, PMG Chowk, MAO College, Lady Wallington and Saggiyan.

As far as alternative routes are concerned, traffic coming from Shahdara would be diverted to the Railway Station through Azadi Flyover. Traffic coming from inner Circular Road would be diverted towards Mori Gate, Urdu Bazar, Chowk Cheterjee, Law College Katchery Road and Nila Gumbad. No traffic would be allowed from Peer Makki U-turn towards Lower Mall. No traffic will be allowed from Katchery Chowk towards Lower Mall. All the Public Service Vehicles coming from inner side Circular Road would be diverted towards Meo Hospital through Shah Alam Chowk. No traffic would be allowed towards Taxali through Masti Gate, Turn Shahi Qila and Ali Park. No Traffic would be allowed from Chowk Milad towards Dehli Gate, Masjid Wazir Khan. Traffic will be restricted from Pani Wala Talab towards Rang Mahal. Traffic coming from Multan Road will be diverted towards MAO College, Sanda Road, Commissioner Office, DIG Operations outfall road. Heavy transport coming from Kahana Kasur will be diverted towards Band Road Double Sarka through LOS Chowk, Multan Road & Gulshan Ravi.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2018.