Chehlum security: 2,000 officials to protect mourners

Senior officers to ensure effective coordination among security personnel.

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Police have chalked out a security plan for the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) to protect participants of the procession.

Law enforcement officials will be deployed along the routes of the procession and religious gatherings in the city, according to the plan. The main procession will start from Imambargah Asnae-Ashri in Sector G-6/2 and will culminate at the same point.

Around 2,000 officials of the Islamabad Police, Rangers and personnel of other law enforcement agencies will patrol the city and perform security duties on this occasion. All processions will be closely guarded and cordoned off.

Fifty Quick Response Force teams will be on patrolling duty while police will also be deputed with sophisticated weapons on rooftops. Sniffer dogs and a bomb disposal squad will clear the route of the procession.



Following the directions of Islamabad Inspector General of Police Sikandar Hayat, all senior officers will visit the routes of the procession and ensure effective coordination among security personnel on duty.

The route has been divided into three sectors and officers of the rank of a superintendant of police will supervise each sector. These sectors are further divided into sub-sectors and police officials of the ranks of an ASP or DSP will be in charge of security.



In these sub-sectors, separate officers will be in charge of personnel deputed on rooftops and at police pickets while personnel of Special Branch, Crime Investigation Department and Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) will also be deployed.

ITP officials will divert traffic on alternate routes to avoid inconvenience to road users and Traffic SP Asmatullah Junejo will monitor traffic-related issues. Parking areas for participants of the procession will be specified and located some distance away from the route.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2013.