New security plan treats all Fridays as ‘sensitive’

LAHORE: A new security plan has been approved for Lahore, recommending striff security measures on Fridays, begining on June 3.

The move comes in the wake of intelligence reports warning of possible terrorist attacks at places of worship of all faiths.

According to the new security plan, strict security will be provided outside all mosques, imambargahs, churches, Ahmadis’ places of worship which have been declared sensitive throughout the city.

Police officials close to the security planning told The Express Tribune that police patrolling will be intensified, starting on Thursday nights.

Stricter checks will be in place at all entry and exit points of the city with an increase in the deployment of security personnel at major points.

The city’s six superintendents of police have been directed to ensure that the instructions issued by the office of the Capital City Police Officer are followed in letter and spirit.

Model Town division SP Rana Ayaz Saleem told The Express Tribune that strict security measures would be adopted on Fridays to eavert the possibility of any untoward incident in the city.

He said that large contingents of police will be deputed outside the worship places of all faiths and sects, adding that snap-checking will be increased and more police pickets will be set up around the city.

He said police personnel had been directed to remain vigilant and to check all suspicious vehicles eliminating the possibility of any terrorist entering the city.

Civil Lines SP Dr Haider Ashraf told The Express Tribune that walkthrough gates will be installed at major mosques and that mosque administrations had also been also asked to install closed-circuit television cameras and walk-through gates, especially for Friday prayers.

He said that the Civil Lines police had started scanning the area from Thursday night, adding that more patrol vans will be man city roads to ensure safety to the people.

SP Haider Ashraf also held a meeting with leaders of the Ahmadia community regarding security measures for their worship places on Friday. An Ahmadi leader said that their community had taken adequate security measures for Friday prayers at worship places which had been attacked last week — Darul Zikr and Darul Noor.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he told this correspondent that they had been receiving threatening calls, in which unidentified callers had been asking them to close their worship places or “be prepared for more attacks”. He said they had informed the police about the threats but had always been assured of “best possible police protection “.

Dr Haider Ashraf, the Superintendent of Police of Civil Lines, confirmed that the police had informed the Ahmadi leaders in a meeting at Darul Zikr, that a large contingent of police will safeguard their place of worship during Friday prayers.

He said inside the worship places, the community’s private guards will provide security.

Published in the Express Tribune, June, 2010.