Youm-i-Ali: 3,000 cops to guard procession

200 volunteers from Tehreek-i-Nifaz-Fiqh Jafria to assist with security plan.

LAHORE: Police claim to have devised a ‘fool proof’ plan to avert any untoward situation during the Youm-i-Ali procession in the city to mark the martyrdom day of Hazrat Ali (RA).

A police spokesperson said that three thousand security personnel will be deployed along the path of the main procession. Walkthrough gates have been placed at the three main entry points of the procession. Sniffer dogs will also be used to clear the area while snipers would provide overhead cover from high vantage points.

The procession route has been divided into four zones, each of which will be under supervision of an SP.

The procession will start at Nisar Haveli, going through Chowk Nawab Sahab, Kotwali Chowk, Kashmiri Bazaar, Rang Mehal, Paniwala Talab, Nogaza Chowk and Baazare Hakeeman before ending  at Karbala Gamay Shah.

City SP Muhammad Anwar Khetran said that the parking points had been set up 500-1,500 metres from the procession road. Some 200 volunteers from the Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqh Jafria will assist the security agencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2011.