Eid Miladun Nabi processions: More than 6,000 personnel to perform security duty in twin cities

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

More than 6,000 personnel from the police and other law enforcement agencies will provide security to Eid Miladun Nabi processions in the twin cities on Tuesday.

In the capital, where the main procession will be taken out from Sector G-7, the police will be assisted by Rangers. According to the security plan, police personnel will be deployed in front of and behind the procession, while some personnel will also provide rooftop surveillance.

The police said that metal detectors, walkthrough gates and monitoring cameras will be installed along the procession routes in Islamabad. The bomb disposal squad team will comb the procession routes before clearing them. Police reserves will also be on call in case of emergency, the police said.

The Islamabad Traffic Police have devised a plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic, with additional staff guiding road users when the processions were underway. According to the plan, parking lots that fall along the procession routes will be closed for public use.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police said that they have devised a “foolproof security plan” for the Eid Milad processions in the city.

Besides 4,000 policemen, traffic police personnel, Punjab constabulary, Elite Force, special branch, Muhafiz Squad and district peace committee members will also perform security duties in the city.

According to the security plan, no commercial vehicles such as trucks or trailers would be allowed on the main procession routes and side streets and crossroads along the routes would be sealed with barbed wire. No one will be allowed to set up ‘sabeels’ along the procession routes without prior approval from the district administration, the police said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2014.