Muharram security plan finalised in Lahore

Measures devised for protection of 650 processions, 5,235 gatherings

LAHORE:

The top brass of police held high-level meetings at Police Lines, Qila Gujjar Singh and Central Police Office (CPO) to give final shape to the security plan for Muharram.

A meeting of Lahore police was chaired by CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed and attended by DIG Investigation Shahzada Sultan, DIG Operations Ashfaq Ahmad, CTO Syed Hamad, SSP Admin Liaqat Ali, SSP Investigation Zeeshan Asghar, SP Headquarters Jamil Zafar and all the divisional SPs and SDPOs.

The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation regarding Muharram and the security of potential flash points and trouble points in various areas. All the divisional officers and SDPOs also briefed the CCPO regarding the security arrangements for the processions and gatherings.

Foolproof security arrangements are being devised for more than 650 processions and 5,235 other gatherings in the provincial capital. The gatherings and processions have been divided into three categories according to sensitivity. Lahore will have 610 A category, 3,471 B category and 1,154 C category gatherings.

The CCPO stated that three-tier security cordoning off of areas for processions and meetings should be ensured.

While issuing instructions, he further said that best snipers and well-armed personnel should be deployed at rooftops of buildings and vantage points and SDPOs and SHOs should brief the on-duty staff frequently. “Establish fronts at the entrance and exit points of gatherings and processions, and issue detention orders for violators.”

The Lahore police chief highlighted that search operations in all divisions should be expedited and repeated checking should be carried of tenants, hotels, hostels, bus stands and other places. “Meetings with all organisers should be continued. There should be no violence in gatherings and processions.”

Minor issues should be resolved through the peace committees, he recommended.

“Police personnel stationed at the checkpoints should wear bulletproof jackets and helmets. All personnel should have raincoats in view of the monsoon season.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2020.