Security test: 9th Muharram processions staged

15,700 policemen on duty at 600 processions and 5,369 majalis.

LAHORE:

Mourning processions in tribute to the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the other martyrs of Karbala were staged across the city on Thursday, Muharram 9.

The largest procession began at Pando Street at 10am, after the route was cleared by the bomb disposal squad with the help of sniffer dogs. A Zuljinnah procession started from the Atia Ahle Bait Imam Bargah on Nicolson Road.

Security was strict at all Muharram gatherings and marches in the city and no clashes or attacks had been reported by the time this report was filed at 9pm. Walk-through security gates were also installed for the procession and the preceding majlis.

A number of small processions merged with the main procession, which went through Alamgir Road, the Civil Secretariat, Church Road, Old Anarkali and Edward Road and culminated at Khaima Saadat Azakhana Edward. The mourners were due to return to Pando Street at around 12am.

All main roads and arteries leading to the route of Ashura processions, especially Lower Mall, Old and New Anarkali and Kutchery Road, were blocked with barricades and barbed wire.

Around 15,700 policemen were on duty during the day to provide security to more than 600 processions and 5,369 gatherings in the city, said Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Chaudhry Shafique Ahmed. Another 400 policemen in plain clothes were deployed at ‘sensitive’ processions and gatherings. The Punjab Rangers were also put on high alert. Some 140 Elite Force personnel performed security duty while Mujahid Squad personnel patrolled the city.



Snipers were deployed on rooftops of tall buildings on the procession routes, which were also monitored by two helicopters, said Security SP Ali Salman Khan. “The snipers deployed on rooftops have been directed to maintain constant contact with the police personnel performing duty on the ground,” he said. The routes were also monitored by moveable cameras installed at hidden places and by CCTV cameras mounted at imam bargahs.

One man was detained by police near Khaima Saadat and was shifted to an undisclosed destination, but the SP said that it was too early to say whether he had any intention to attack a procession or gathering.

CCPO Chaudhry Shafique Gujjar paid surprise visits to several locations and imam bargahs during the day. Talking to reporters during an inspection at Pando Street, he said that parking areas for all majalis and processions had been set up at least 200 metres away. Each participant was being checked by police personnel and volunteers equipped with metal detectors at three points before they could gain entry, he said.

The CCPO said that all divisional SPs had been directed to personally inspect deployment and patrolling of mobile squads in their areas, besides paying random visits to sensitive places.

Gujjar reprimanded several police officials during his surprise visits. He directed Headquarters SP Maroof Masood Wahla to take departmental action against three sub inspectors, an assistant sub inspector and a head constable for dereliction of duty.

At Imam Bargah Qasr-i-Batool, Shadman, the CCPO noted that only one sniper had been deployed at the rooftop rather than two. He reprimanded security in-charge SI Muhammad Amin and directed him to send up another sniper. He directed the Model Town SP to take departmental action against the SI.

At Imam Bargh Qasr-i-Abu Talib, the CCPO admonished the security in-charge, SI Munawwar Hussain, for not deploying policemen at the back. At Imam Bargah Zain Al-Abidin, SI Arif Hussain and ASI Babar Munir were told off for negligence. At Imam Bargah Bibi Zainab, the city police chief noted that citizens were not being properly checked at the main police checkpoint and told off Head Constable Muhammad Nazir. He gave police at the checkpoint a lecture on proper checking.

City Traffic Officer Sohail Chaudhry said that traffic wardens had been instructed to take action against anyone flouting the ban on pillion riding or cars with tinted windows. Traffic police were also instructed to make sure that no cars are parked along the procession routes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2013.