Eid Milad: As day draws near, police finalise preparations

Around 1,000 policemen will be deployed around processions in Islamabad alone.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: As Muslims in the twin cities prepare to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the police are ready with their own security arrangements.

Around 1,000 police personnel will perform security duties in Islamabad on 12th Rabiul Awal, which falls on January 25.

Islamabad’s main Eid Milad procession will begin at the Police Ground in sector G-7 and move to the shrine of Hazrat Sakhi Mehmud near Aabpara market. In case of rain, the procession will emerge from the Jamia Al-Raza mosque in G-7.

The procession will be completely cordoned off through heavy police deployment, according to the plan chalked out by Islamabad Police.

Walkthrough scanners and metal detectors will be available at all the entry points of the procession. The bomb disposal squad will sweep the procession area for explosives. Rangers and other law enforcement personnel will also perform patrolling and security duties on the occasion, in addition to the Islamabad Police.



Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has also devised a plan to divert traffic to alternate routes to maintain the traffic flow and avoid any inconvenience to citizens.

In Rawalpindi, several Milad processions will be taken out across the city but the main procession is planned to start from Banni Chowk and end at the central Jamia Mosque after passing through the inner city.

Punjab government has directed all District and Tehsil administration officers to take strict security measures. The district administration has finalised a security plan, which includes prohibiting tractor trolleys, trucks and other heavy vehicles on city routes on January 25.

The city district government will also set up a 24-hour control room for the surveillance of processions and for reviewing security arrangements.

Meanwhile, preparations for Eid Milad in the twin cities are in full swing. Streets and buildings have been adorned with buntings, banners, flags and decorative lights.

Special programmes to pay tribute to the Prophet’s life, Naat and Qirat competitions, calligraphy exhibitions and Mehfil-e-Milad events have been planned in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to mark the occasion. An international Seerat Conference will also be held in Islamabad on January 25.

On Sunday, the Milad-e Mustafa rally safely reached Karachi Company in sector G-9 from Rawat in Rawalpindi under security provided by the Islamabad Police.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2013.