Ramazan security: Plans all prepared

2,500 police officials and security guards to be deployed.

ISLAMABAD:

To counter the threat of possible terrorist attacks in the capital, the Islamabad Police have drawn up a security plan for Ramazan.

According to a press release, around 2,500 police officials and security guards will be deployed in the capital.  Additional officials have been called in from Police Line Headquarters to ensure effective security at worship places and markets. A majority of these will perform special duties at 720 mosques and 39 imambargahs. Security arrangements will be supervised by five superintendents of police.

All subdivisional police officers (SDPOs) and station house officers (SHOs) were directed to personally supervise security arrangements during Ramazan and ensure deployment of police officials or private security guards where necessary.

Islamabad Assistant Inspector General Operations Sultan Azam Temuri has ordered strict security at entry and exit points of the city and strict monitoring of people entering or leaving the city.

He asked SHOs to brief people in their area to properly lock up their houses and keep the lights on if going out.

Additional station house officers will conduct security checking for prayers. Mosque committees will not allow any stranger to stay in worship places. Mosque committees will screen people through metal detectors and deploy security guards.

Police officials have been directed to screen guests at hotels, motels, inns and guesthouses. Property dealers have also been directed to submit details of their tenants to SHOs of their respective areas.

Police stations have been directed to coordinate with office-bearers of traders’ unions in their respective areas to ensure effective security.

New performance markers

The performance of SDPOs and SHOs will now be gauged through the number of arrests and charge-sheets submitted in the courts. A strategy has been planned to evaluate their performance and who fails to meet the set criteria, strict action will be taken against him.

This was announced by Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police Aftab Ahmed Cheema, while chairing a high-level meeting late Friday evening.

The Islamabad IG expressed displeasure over the poor performance of SDPOs and SHOs and urged them to improve their performance. He directed officers to take effective measures to check incidents of murders, kidnapping, armed robberies, car lifting and street crime. “Those performing well will be rewarded.”

He said reports of SDPOs whose performance was poor would be forwarded to the Interior Ministry, which would initiate departmental action against them.

He directed SHOs to hold their subordinates accountable and take action against police officials involved in corruption. The IG also expressed anger over police officials who register fake cases to harass people.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2014.