Security bypassed ‘due to long queues’

Situation was under control despite larger than expected crowd: SP.

LAHORE: Security arrangements for Tehreek-i-Insaf rally on Sunday fell short as most of the 32 walkthrough gates available to the police were not used at the entrances. Policemen were not seen frisking people entering the sitting area with metal detectors. 

Several walkthrough gates that had been installed were also removed as long queues developed at three entrances, two for men and one for women, before the start of speeches.

Most of the 1,400 police constables deployed for security clustered around one of the main entrances. There were no policemen patrolling the central seating area – as required by the three-tier security plan for the rally.

A large number of people were also seen entering the grounds from an opening in the railing.

Some of the policemen deployed for security duty said they had relaxed the security cover seeing the number of people waiting to enter the compound. They said they had retreated because they wanted to avoid turmoil.

Superintendent of Police (City) Anwar Khetran told The Express Tribune that the number of people at the rally was more than the police had expected. However, he said, the situation remained under control.

He said most of the walkthrough gates available to the police could not be used because there were only three entrances to the grounds. Also, he said, some of the gates installed on the entrances got damaged.

SP Khetran admitted that there were some lapses in security, particularly for the women’s section.

Umair Ahmed, one of the participants, said he and his friends listened to the speeches standing on top of their motorcycles until 5pm when they found some space and entered the ground.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st,  2011.