Chehlum security: Police want cellular services suspended

5,000 policemen will be on duty for chehlum on Sunday.

LAHORE: Lahore police have written separate letters to the DCO and the Home Department to ban pillion-riding and suspend cellular services in sensitive areas of the city on the chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA) on Sunday.

Operations DIG Haider Ashraf told The Express Tribune police had requested DCO Muhammad Usman and the Home Department to suspend cellular services and ban pillion-riding in the vicinity of the main chehlum procession.

The procession will start from Imambargah Haveli Alif Shah, Delhi Gate, and conclude at Karbala Gamay Shah.



However, families, elderly people and journalists would be exempted from the ban on pillion-riding, the DIG said.

“We have carried out a search operation along the routes of two major processions in Krishan Nagar, Islampura, and Delhi Gate,” City SP Asad Sarfaraz Khan said.

Security SP Malik Liaqat said that nearly 5,000 policemen from the Elite Force, the Quick Response Force (QRF) and the Mujahid Squad would perform duty on the chehlum. Snipers would also be deployed on the day, he said.

Streets leading to the routes of chehlum processions will be blocked using barricades and barbed wires.

The SP said Elite Force and Mujahid Squad personnel would patrol the city on Sunday. “Once approved, the ban on pillion riding will be enforced strictly,” Liaqat said.

He said walkthrough gates would be placed at the entries of processions. Security pickets would be installed on the routes of processions.

Processions

The central procession will be taken out on Saturday from Aza Khana Pando Street, Krishan Nagar.

It will reach Imambargah Khaima Saadat via Haider Road, Neeli Bar, Inder Street, Dayal Street, Guru Tegh Bahadur Road, Main Bazaar Krishan Nagar, Secretariat Chowk, Church Road, Nabha Road, Edward Road and Old Anarkali.

On Sunday, a procession will be taken out from Imambargah Alif Shah Delhi Gate.

It will reach Karbala Gamay Shah via Fazal-i-Haq Chowk, Chowk Nawab Sahib, Mubarak Haveli, Akbari Gate, Nisar Haveli, Chohatta Mufti Baqar and Purani Kotwali.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2014.