Over 4,500 cops to provide security on Eid

Walkthrough gates, police pickets set up at sensitive mosques, imambargahs

RAWALPINDI:

More than 4,500 security personnel will be deployed in Rawalpindi on Eidul Azha to control the law and order situation, keeping an eye on the banned outfits to prevent them from collecting hides of sacrificial animals as well as to ensure that the protective guidelines on Covid-19 are implemented.

Under the plan, mosques, imambargahs, and prayer grounds have been divided into three categories as per their predetermined threat level.

The police will also deploy special commandos in different areas of the city while pickets will be set up at all entry and exit points of Rawalpindi to keep an eye on suspicious vehicles.

These points will also be monitored through closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

The police have declared Eid Gah Sharif, Liaquat Bagh, Liaquat Bagh Sports Complex, Government Gordon College, Asghar Mall College, and a few other make-shift prayer sites as sensitive.

Police revisit security plans as sit-in drags on

As per the security plan, worshippers will join congregations at these sites after passing through walk-through gates and being thoroughly frisked.

Police officials further said that pickets, reinforced with sandbags, and armed policemen inside, will be established at all major congregational prayer sites. Sources told The Express Tribune that volunteers from mosques will also assist the police in their duties.

City traffic plan

City Traffic Police (CTP) has devised a comprehensive traffic plan to control and maintain traffic flow in the garrison city during Eidul Azha.

Under the plan, the traffic police have established pickets at 12 different spots who have been tasked with stopping visitors from heading to Murree.

Only residents of the hill station will be allowed to proceed after proving their identity by showing their CNIC or any other identification card such as an office or school ID cards.

CTP spokesperson said that additional personnel would be deployed at mosques, main thoroughfares, graveyards, and prayer grounds.

Police hammering out Eid security plan​​​​​​​

Operations SSP Wilayat Hussain will oversee the security plan and remain in the field too.

Some 520 traffic wardens, seven DSPs, 30 inspectors, and 76 traffic assistants will perform duties to prevent traffic snarl-ups in the city, he added. Further, the CTP has also formed special squads to take action against intra-city and intra-district transporters overcharging passengers hoping to return to their hometowns to celebrate the religious occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2020.