Twin cities police prepare for Chehlum

Mobile service to remain suspended from 7am to 11pm

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

The Rawalpindi administration has finalised and approved security plan for the mourning processions and gatherings on the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain and the martyrs of Karbala to be observed on Thurssday (October 8.)

As many as 3,500 police personnel would be deployed to ensure security during the day to provide security to the mourners.

The paramilitary rangers would take positions during the processions while the army would stay on alert. The rangers and army conduct a flag march before Chehlum.

As per the security plan, some 300 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras would be made operational again on Wednesday. The control room would be established in the CIA office.

Mobile service would remain suspended from 7pm to 11pm while the processional routes would be sealed off with barbed wires after Fajr prayers.

Under the security arrangements, no one would be allowed to stand on rooftops of commercial and residential buildings situated along the procession routes.

Special checking of the routes would be carried out before the start of the procession, whereas the mourners would be checked with metal detectors and walk-through gates installed at the entry points.

Besides, aerial surveillance would also carry out of the procession.

There will be a ban on parking vehicles on the route while the loudspeakers in mosques would only be turned on for call-to-prayers.

The security arrangements would be monitored by the Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) and Deputy Commissioner (DC).

All related departments have been directed to fix impaired street lights on the processional routes in 24 hours along with covering manholes and removing debris.

Islamabad police on high alert

Islamabad Police have chalked out an elaborate security plan for chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussan (R.A) and strict patrolling during the procession and religious congregations in the city.

The meeting presided over by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar, reviewed and finalized the security plan which was also attended among others by DIG (Operations) Waqaruddin Syed, DG (Safe City) Sarfaraz Ahmed Falki, all AIGs, SSPs, Additional SP and Zonal SPs.

According to police plan, heavy contingents of Islamabad police including Rangers and personnel of other law enforcement agencies will perform patrolling and security duties on this occasion and the main procession to be taken out from Imambargah Asna-e-Ashri sector G-6/2 will be completely cordoned off through heavy deployment.Following the directions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Aamir Zulfqar Khan and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Waqaruddin Syed, all zonal SPs, SDPOs, SHOs and other police officials will visit the routes of procession and ensure effective coordination among the security personnel performing duties. Police officials will guide the cops and boost their morale in accomplishing duties in a responsible manner.

The procession will be monitored through safe city cameras, smart cars, surveillance and drone cameras and DG (Safe City) would supervise all this process. Policemen would be deployed at roof tops of buildings while snipers would also take positions at various buildings.

The staff of bomb disposal squad would also conduct complete search of the procession's route through robots and other modern technology.

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