Muharram processions: City govt reviews security arrangements

Surveillance cameras have been installed along four major procession routes.

LAHORE:

A tehsil coordination committee was formed on Tuesday to manage security arrangements for processions and majalis during Muharamul Haram.

The city government is in the process of adding the final touches to the security arrangements for Muharam. Several meetings have been held recently to ensure foolproof security.

The committee will comprise of an assistant commissioner, relevant police superintendents, Special Branch officials and some members of the Peace Committee. The committee will be under the district coordination committee and will manage security and other necessary arrangements.

Commissioner reviews details

Commissioner Rashid Mahmood Langrial presided over a meeting regarding the security arrangements on Tuesday. District coordination officers of the Lahore division, deputy district officers, the security superintendent and officers of security agencies also attended the meeting.



Langrial said that four-tier security would be provided to majalis and mourning processions during Muharram. A comprehensive security plan had been devised in this regard and surveillance cameras and walk-through gates would also be installed. He directed the DCOs and DDOs to hold meetings with district peace committees and to strengthen coordination. He said display of arms would be banned during Muharram and strict action would be taken on distribution of hate content.

The city government has installed 180 surveillance cameras along four of the biggest procession routes: at the Walled City, Model Town, Islampura and Cantonment. Monitoring rooms have also been established for the CCTV cameras.

There are eight processions in category-A (most sensitive) and 90 in category-B (sensitive) that have received licences from the district administration. There were requests for 160 category-A and 355 category-B processions that did not get licences.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2013.