Jul 10, 2013
By Imran Chaudhry
LAHORE: City police has chalked out a security plan for Ramazan as more than 10,000 police officials will perform security duties during the holy month at all religious places, important markets, and government and private sensitive buildings to avoid any untoward incident.
The plan has been devised to control the possible acts of terrorism as being largely anticipated due to the general security situation of the country as well as recent bomb blast at Old Anarkali Food Street.
A senior police officer said after the recent terrorist attack in Old Anarkali as well as beginning of the Ramazan a high profile meeting of senior police officers was held to chalk out foolproof security plan to maintain law and order in the city during the holy month.
He said all divisional superintendents of police (SPs), assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) and deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) from both the operation and investigation wings attended the meeting.
He said that police high ups had given strict directions to police officials to ensure patrolling in their respective areas and pay surprise visits at police pickets set up within their jurisdiction.
He said 1,100 mosques declared sensitive out of 3,366 mosques across the city. He added that 1100 mosques declared in A and B category where police, other law enforces in plain clothes, private security guards and mosques administration own security persons would perform duty in and out side their respective areas in different shifts.
He said upon receiving directions from seniors, police officers issued strict orders to all station house officers (SHOs) to ensure implementation of the security plan at important religious places, markets, bazaars and other public places such as offices and residences within their respective areas.
SHO’s serving in different police stations said police security will be beefed up in their areas especially during Ramazan. They said that administrations of all A and B Category mosques have been directed to maintain lights inside and outside mosques as well as in the adjoining streets. They said in Ramazan all the administration of mosques and other places must set up walk through gates, metal detectors, CCTV cameras and four to five private security guards.
DIG operations Rai Tahir said that police had finalised the security plan during month of Ramazan and 1,100 mosques declared sensitive where police would perform their duties outside mosques and its surrounding areas with the help of private security guards and mosques administration officials. He said police would also patrol from one to another mosque for better communication. He said strict vigilance should be exercised at entry and exit points for checking suspected persons so that no one could be allowed to disturb peace of the city.
City traffic police also claimed to have made special arrangements to ensure smooth vehicular activities on city’s thoroughfares during the holy month of Ramazan.
According to spokesman of CTO office, around 30 police inspectors and 150 traffic wardens under the supervision of deputy superintendent of police (DSPs) are performing duties along city roads. Similarly, he said, extra wardens would be deployed on busy arteries including all the underpasses while wardens would also be assigned special duties around leading mosques during Taravih prayers.
The spokesman further said the CTO Lahore had also directed wardens to keep vigil on suspected elements and suspicious movements during religious ceremonies and holy prayers.
(Daily Times)
****