Strict measures: Security plan for Muharram announced

Surveillance cameras installed at important mosques and imam bargahs.

LAHORE:

As many as 15,700 policemen will perform security duty at more than 600 mourning processions and 5,369 majalis in the city during Muharram, Capital City Police Officer Chaudhry Shafique Ahmed said at a meeting of the Operations Wing on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Operations DIG Rana Abdul Jabbar, SSP (I&D) Sohail Sukhera, Security SP Ali Salman Khan, Headquarters SP Maroof Safdar Wahla and SP Mujahid Masoom.

Ahmed said 400 policemen will also perform security duty in plainclothes at processions and majalis at sensitive locations.

The CCPO said display of arms and ammunition had been banned in the city. DSPs and SHOs have been directed to carry out inspections before the start of majalis and processions in their areas. Divisional SPs have been told to ensure searches at every sensitive majlis and procession in their respective divisions.

Ahmed said police would patrol within a 100-metres radius of majalis and processions. Parking lots will be set up 100 metres away from processions and majalis. SPs and volunteers have been directed to check all vehicles that enter these parking lots.

The CCPO said sharp shooters had been deployed on rooftops along procession routes and at mosques and imam bargahs in sensitive areas. He said surveillance cameras had been installed at important mosques and imam bargahs.

The security SP said majalis and processions on sensitive routes would be videotaped.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2013.