Rawalpindi police to devise security plan for Rabiul Awwal 12

Ban imposed on music, heavy vehicles along procession routes

RAWALPINDI: With just days to go until Rabiul Awwal 12, the regional police chief has directed police officers to devise a detailed security plan for processions and other congregations to be held on the day.

This was directed as Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ahsan Tufail held a meeting here on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by senior police officers including Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Faisal Rana, District Police Officers (DPOs) of Attock and Jhelum Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari and Captain (retired) Syed Hammad Abid along with the Regional Investigation Branch SSP.

Police officials briefed the RPO about the overall security situation in the district and the arrangements made for the occasion.

The RPO directed preparation of a detailed security plan for congregations, processions and other events which take place during Rabiul Awwal. He directed to sweep and search all sites where processions and milaads will be held. He further directed for police officers to be regularly briefed about their responsibilities.

Tufail warned that laxity will not be tolerated from any officer.

Organisers meet SSP special branch

Special Branch SSP Khurram Shehzad held a meeting with organisers of milaad committees at his office on Tuesday.

The SSP said that his division will survey the main procession routes. He added that there will be a ban on the entry of heavy vehicles in the city while the use of sound systems has also been restricted.

He added that the procession route will be cleaned and thoroughly searched.

Further, the SSP assured organisers of the milaad committees that security will be provided to participants of the Rabiul Awwal 12 processions.

He further assured that all related institutions are liaising with each other to ensure that processions are held peacefully.

SSP Shehzad accepted a demand from the organisers to set up medical camps along the procession route.

Meanwhile, special branch officers urged the delegation to ensure that large trucks and vehicles with music system do not join the procession.

At this, the organisers assured that all directives from police will be implemented.

Cantt DSP meets central milaad committee

Similarly, representatives of Rawalpindi Cantonment’s central milaad committee, including Muhammad Amir Siddiqui, Yasir Bashir, Yaqoob Jadoon and led by committee president Qasim Hasnain Shah met with the cantonment DSP.

The representatives said that their processions will commence from Milaad Chowk in Chungi 22 at 9am on November 10.

They added that the procession will travel down different pre-designated routes through the jurisdiction of at least three police stations including Race Course, RA Bazaar and Cantonment and will conclude at the GTS mosque.

The committee members said they will finalise security arrangements per police instructions, adding that only small vehicles including wagons will be part of the procession while the lead vehicle would be installed with a small sound system.

The representatives assured that there would be a ban on playing music in the procession.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2019.