Punjab police reassigns all Elite Force personnel from protocol duties

8000 additional police personnel called up to beef up security for Ramazan.

LAHORE: To boost security ahead of Ramazan, the Punjab police has decided to reassign all personnel of the elite force currently deputed on protocol duty all over the Punjab province to sensitive locations.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting presided over by the Inspector General of Punjab Police Mohammad Habibur Rehman at the Central Police Office on Thursday.

It was decided to recall almost 900 personnel of the Elite Force from their assignments with senior government officials, politicians and prominent personalities in Lahore. Instead, 2000 men from Battalion-8 of the Punjab Constabulary (a reserve force) will take up the escort and protocol duties vacated by the recalled Elite Forces. However, an official talking to The Express Tribune later, said that the Punjab Police will be reviewing deputing police personnel on protocol duties and not everyone who enjoyed services of elite force would be given men from Battalion-8.

Individuals and institutions where policemen were serving as security guards, have been asked to hire guards from private security services to meet their security requirements.

The Punjab police have also called up 8000 additional police personnel to beef up security in and around sensitive installation, religious places including mosques. All personnel have also been directed to remain extra vigilant at Sehr, Iftar and Taraveehs all over the province.

The police force has also been directed to register and maintain records of private schools, rental buildings, inns, hotels, hostels, real estate agents and rent-a-car services. The chief of police also urged hostel and hotel managements to not offer rooms and board to any person without taking a copy of their identity cards.

The police have been further directed to take action against the violators under shops and security and real estate ordinance.