PHOTO: FILE
At least 5,307 majalis and 650 mourning processions will be held during the first 10 days of the month, DIG Operations Ashfaq Ahmad Khan said during a conversation with The Express Tribune.
“Four of the processions have fallen into Category-A,” he added.
These included the Nisar Haveli, Walled City to Karbala Gamay Shah and Pando Street to Islampura processions. The others were the Thokar Niaz Beg and Model Town processions. Besides, the police have also taken measures to ensure security at graveyards as several people gather at these burial places during Muharram.
As part of the plan, Lahore Police took Peace Committee Members on board. Two days ago, the CCPO presided over a meeting held at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh. Committees and delegations from different sections of society were present and the purpose of the engagement was to ask them play an active role in maintaining interfaith harmony and reviving active communication.
In addition, licenses of the processions and majalis were approached to ensure that SOPs were followed, Khan said. The SOPs included the installation of CCTV cameras, walkthrough gates, deployment of trained volunteers and setting up of sound systems.
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“Internal police security conferences, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, were conducted to brainstorm,” he added. Besides, mock exercises for volunteer training, model pickets and model vantage points were also included as part of the plan.
Also, route surveys the four Category-A processions were held, Khan continued. “Punjab Safe Authority was also taken on board for surveillance
He continued that for monitoring and other purposes, a senior officer from the city was deputed at the scene.
SP Security Muhammad Naveed said the police have reinforced the pickets at entry and exit points of the city. He added the force also had a plan to improve and enhance picketing in areas close to the main processions and majalis.
“We will increase human resource deployment in these areas. Naveed added that officials and officers of all three wings; operations, investigations and security, will perform duty in three shifts on 9th and 10th Muharram under the command of Lahore CCPO BA Nasir.
City Traffic Police Lahore will also assist them in ensuring smooth vehicular traffic flow on the occasion. The reserve force of the Punjab Constabulary will also be summoned for assistance.
DIG Ashfaq Ahmad said that on-ground security plan was four-layered. This translates into each participant have to go through checking at four various points before being allowed to enter the gathering.
He added snipers will be deployed on nearby rooftops to keep an eye on a suspicious person or activity. Aerial surveillance and surveillance through drones will also be conducted. Policemen in plainclothes will be deployed at the gatherings to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
Besides, Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit teams will remain on patrol in surrounding areas to respond in case of any emergency. Khan said he was also focused to ensuring the welfare of police personnel on duty.In conclusion, he added police officers would continue their interaction with the religious leadership. “Lahore Police will take every possible measure to make Muharram programsme peaceful”. He requested public and religious scholars to also play their role. “Islam teaches us peace and harmony,” he underlined. He requested them to cooperate with the police in their efforts and inform 15 in case of any news about suspicious people or activity.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2019.
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