Punjab police get Rs62m for Muharram security

Punjab also requests Centre to send army to 29 districts of province

LAHORE: The Punjab government has issued Rs62 million funds to Punjab police to provide security during the month of Muharram.

An amount of Rs1 million has been issued for petrol consumption, Rs6.5 million for Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Rs1 million for special branch. The amount will be disbursed in all the districts of Punjab.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government had also requested the federal government to send the army to 29 districts of the province. The troops will remain alert and on standby to respond in case of any untoward situation. The government had already requested for paramilitary to aid during the month.

Lahore police approved the final security plan for the month of Muharram in a meeting held on Saturday. CCPO BA Nasir chaired the meeting. DIGs Inam Waheed and Ashfaq Ahmed Khan, CTO Malik Liaqat, SSPs Zeshan Asghar and Ismail Kharak and all SPs, SDPOs and SHOs were also present in the meeting.

The CCPO emphasised the need for promotion of interfaith harmony and strictly directed that Muharram security plan should be implemented in a proper way. "Publication and publicity of hate material would be barred. Illegal use of amplifiers would be discouraged" he vowed. He pledged that all steps would be taken for the maintenance of sectarian harmony. "Elected public representatives should be kept in the loop" he directed.

Nasir said that SHOs should remain in contact with religious leaders and Zakirs. Police would take every possible step to provide security cover to the Majalis and processions, he said. Nasir directed all field officers to be nice to citizens and avoid illegal detentions. "I reject the culture of illegal detentions and warn that strict action will be taken on any violation," he said.

He directed officials to maintain last year’s performance because Lahore police earned nationwide praise for exercising values of good policing. He stressed upon the personal security of the police force deployed. "I want to see you all safe and secured,” he said.

Training of volunteers

On Saturday, training of 1,100 volunteers was completed at Qila Gujjar Singh police lines. The volunteers will help law enforcement agencies during Muharram. At least 200 volunteers belonged to Civil Lines division. The officers of Special Branch and Elite Force of Lahore police imparted training to volunteers. They were taught the use of different search items. They were also trained about weapon handling and weapon safety rules. The trained volunteers will assist police in keeping an eye on suspects during Muharram gatherings and perform security duties.

During the day, SSP Operations Lahore police Ismail Kharak visited routes and adjacent areas of mourning processions. DSPs and SHOs were also escorting him. He also monitored checking mechanism on the route of the mourning procession, the participation of devotees, traffic and other arrangements. He asked the field officers to thoroughly check road patches work, suitable light, medical facilities and other facilities with the help of district administration.

A day earlier Ismail Kharak and SP Security Muhammad Naveed chaired a meeting with the office-bearers of printing press association Lahore. They asked them to refrain from publishing hate material and play their part in the maintenance of peace and inter-faith harmony during Muharram.

PR completes arrangements

The Pakistan Railways Police have made foolproof security arrangements at railway stations, trains and other sensitive places for safety of passengers during Muharram.

According to the PRP sources, PR DIG Operations Azhar Rashid Khan has formulated a comprehensive security plan for Muharram on the directions of IG Wajid Zia and issued orders to SPs of all railway divisions to ensure foolproof security arrangements at mosques and Imambargahs of their areas.

All SPs have been directed to deploy maximum officials during Majalis and processions while officers would also visit Imambargahs and mosques.

In this regard, police commandoes will be deployed at important places while Pakistan Railways officers would remain in touch with the local district police officers.

*With additional input from APP 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2019.