Capital finalises security strategy

ISLAMABAD:

A comprehensive security plan has been finalised from the first Muharramul Haram to the second Rabiul Awal in the federal capital. A total of 16,000 policemen will perform security duties during this time.

During this period, about 181 processions and 965 congregations will be held. On Sunday morning, a meeting of police officers was held under the chairmanship of IG Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi. DIG Syed Ali Raza briefed that Islamabad police have formed a special security plan for Muharram.

The official said that several meetings were organised with the scholars of all schools of thought, members of the Aman committee and intellectuals. More than 16,000 officers of Islamabad police and Pakistan Rangers will be deployed on security duty. Strict checking will be done on entry and exit routes across the city.

Safe city cameras will monitor processions, with armed police personnel will perform duties on rooftops during congregations and processions, he said, adding that armoured police vehicles will be present exclusively to deal with any emergency. All the roads and streets on the procession routes will be closed with barbed wire. Special checking of the procession route will be carried out before the procession starts, and the routes of the procession will be cleared by the bomb disposal squad.

The DIG added that all gatherings and processions will be video-recorded using drone cameras. Locals and non-locals will be allowed to enter the procession after a thorough search. There will be a complete ban on entry of vehicles and motorcycles in the procession.