Police remain on alert to protect Kashmir rally

Lahore police provided security to the participants of the Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir Rally by deploying over 1,000 personnel under the supervision of five SPs, 10 DSPs and 32 SHOs.

DIG Operations Ashfaq Khan along with SSP Faisal Shehzad, Deputy Commissioner Danish Afzaal and other senior officers of police and district administration visited the route of the rally from Governor House to Faisal Chowk and reviewed the security and other arrangements.

The DIG informed the media that officials of Special Security Unit (SSU), Anti-Riot Force (ARF), Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit were also on high alert. The police ensured complete checking of participants of the rally as three layers of protection was provided to them. Dolphin Squad and PRU teams conducted continuous patrolling around the whole route. Metal detectors and walkthrough gates were used for body search and monitoring of the rally was done with the help of CCTV cameras of Punjab Safe Cities Authority. Snipers were also deputed on rooftops of high-rise buildings.

Meanwhile, one-minute silence was observed at Punjab Safe Cities Authority headquarters. National anthems under the flags of Kashmir and Pakistan were also played to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

The Punjab Emergency Service also observed the first anniversary of August 5, 2019 to condemn the illegal, immoral and inhuman action by the Indian government. A ceremony held at Rescue Headquarters, Thokar Niaz Baig, was attended by the senior officers from the Emergency Services Academy and Headquarters, instructors and a large numbers of rescue cadets.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2020.