PHOTO: FILE
All officers of Lahore police attended the meeting chaired by the Capital City Police Officer BA Nasir on Thursday. Two days ago, Nasir had chaired another meeting.
Yaum-e-Ali procession route is five kilometer-long, starting from Mubarak Haveli and culminating at Karbala Gamay Shah. Police have completed security audit of 193 streets.
According to the plan, nobody will be allowed to enter the street without thorough checking. Every person entering the procession will be checked at least at three points. CCTV cameras throughout the route have been installed by Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) and their functional test has also been conducted. The district administration has also installed CCTV cameras for surveillance. It has also fixed suitable street lights.
Police also reviewed previous security plans to overcome flaws.
Checking and body searching points have been erected at entry points. They also prepared a sketch of the plan and sought help from the local community, locals and businessmen’s representatives in devising the security plan.
Police were conducting search and sweep operations in the areas and shops on the route. They have also taken security bonds from the shopkeepers.
During the procession at least 3,000 policemen will perform duty on the route that falls in the jurisdiction of nine police stations. They have also devised a mechanism to build proper coordination with other departments.
A plan is also devised to control snatching around shopping centres during the last 10 days of Ramazan. Police have deployed extra teams and squads near these centers. CCTV cameras have also been installed.
CCPO directed officials that security measures must be strictly implemented on Yaum-e-Ali (RA). “Failure is not an option,” he warned. He said that police were dealing with the danger of terrorism with a missionary zeal.
“We would continue our prime obligation of security of lives and properties of the public,” he said.
DIG Operations Ashfaq Ahmad Khan said that policing for a population of 120 million was a challenging job. However, Lahore police were capable enough to meet all these challenges because it is using its professional expertise and modern technology. He said that Lahore police faced a serious challenge of ensuring foolproof security for Yaum-e-Ali procession.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2019.
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