Oct 03, 2014
LAHORE: More than 5,000 policemen will be deployed at mosques, Eidgahs, imambargahs and markets on Eidul Azha, Operations Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Haider Ashraf said on Thursday.
The DIG was briefing a meeting chaired by Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains about security arrangements made for the Eid. Security Superintendent Malik Liaqat also attended the meeting.
The DIG said the security plan would be implemented in three phases – pre-Eid, on Eid and post-Eid.
“Foolproof security arrangements are in place. Police will protect shopping centres and places holding Eid prayers,” Ashraf said.
He said lady constables and officials from the Quick Response Force unit would also be on duty during the holidays. He directed all divisional SPs to form separate teams of policemen to check crime during the festivity.
Ashraf said action would be taken against those brandishing weapons or firing in the air.
The DIG said police commandoes would be deployed at 3,587 mosques, 28 imambargahs and 126 places holding Eid prayers. He asked police officers to carry out body searches using metal detectors at entrances and exits of markets.
Ashraf said traffic police had been asked to make appropriate parking arrangements at mosques, imambargahs, markets and parks.
CCPO Wains said policemen routinely sacrificed their own happiness for the sake of citizens’ protection. He said elaborate security steps had been made at entrances and exits of the city to ensure security. He ordered that patrolling be intensified. He requested citizens to cooperate with police in maintaining order in the city.
The CCPO ordered the SPs to conduct search operations in their areas to check suspicious elements. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Tayyab Hafeez Cheema said three SPs, 10 deputy superintendents, 79 inspectors, 2,830 traffic wardens and 415 constables would be on duty to help streamline traffic during the holidays.
The CTO said some makeshift parking lots had also been set up. He said wardens from all sectors had been provided 500 fluorescent rods to help guide traffic during the night.
Cheema said traffic wardens had been asked not to challan motorists for minor offences during holidays. However, he said, grave misconduct such as violation of traffic signals would not be tolerated.
“Wardens should educate citizens about the importance of obeying traffic rules,” he said.
(Tribune)
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