Pillion riding banned for two days

Pillion riding has been banned for two days while helicopters begin monitoring sensitive locations.


Rameez Khan December 16, 2010

LAHORE: Pillion riding on motorbikes has been banned for two days while helicopters began monitoring sensitive locations in Lahore from the skies on Wednesday as the security plan for Muharram was stepped up ahead of the main mourning processions.

Superintendent of Police (Security) Fasial Rana told The Express Tribune that those riding pillion as well as drivers would be arrested if police caught them on Muharram 9 and 10.

The two helicopters, one from the army and one from the Interior Ministry, are monitoring the sites of processions and majalis aerially.

SP Rana said that the police were employing a three-layer security blanket around sensitive areas. This three-tier security includes some 20,000 members of the Punjab Police to guard processions, as well as the Elite Force and Quick Response Force.

Two companies of the Punjab Rangers, some 600 men, will patrol the streets as a “second line of defence for the police”.

He said that around 135 cameras had been installed around the city and the footage would be monitored in command centres at the offices of the DIG (Operations), CCPO, SP (Security) and other SPs.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Muhammad Aslam Tareen, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rao Sardar and other senior police officers inspected security arrangement at the major procession routes in the city on Wednesday.

During his visit to Nisar Haveli, which is the starting point for Lahore’s biggest Muharram procession, Tareen advised police officers to remain vigilant at all times, especially at the start and end of the procession.

He told the police to provide extra security cover to women’s majalis and processions.

He urged citizens to also remain alert and report any suspicious activity to the police. “Conscious and informed citizens are the best defence against the scourge of terrorism and other heinous crimes,” he said.

“If we all play our role as responsible citizens, we can foil the nefarious plots of criminals and terrorists.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2010.

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