LAHORE – City Police Chief Ahmed Raza Tahir has said that the police are giving final touches to a comprehensive plan to ensure peace here in the provincial metropolis during holy month of Moharram-ul-Haram amid “serious security threats.”
In an exclusive interview with TheNation, Capital City Police Officer revealed that apart from Majalis, more than 4000 processions are expected appear in the largest City of the Punjab province during the forthcoming Moharram-ul-Harram.
“With the grace of Allah Almighty, we hope that the things will remain in control during this crucial Moharram. The entire police in Lahore will remain on high-alert and this year, we are taking extra-ordinary measures to ensure peace,” Ahmed Raza Tahir said, confidently.
Let me tell you frankly, he said, this year the entire provincial machinery has been put on high alert for extremely sensitive duties. The Chief Minister (Mian Shahbaz Sharif) is personally reviewing the security arrangements, being made across the province.
“A special security committee headed by the IGP (Inspector General of Police) has been visiting all the divisional headquarters in the Punjab to review security arrangements for Moharram,” Ahmed Raza Tahir maintained.
He said that more than 12,000 policemen would be deployed to provide security cover to the participants of the processions and Majalis, apart from the officials of the local administration who will assist the policemen.
The organizers of Majalis and processions will also deploy their own men in considerable numbers around the Imambargahs in consultation with the local police. He said that City has been divided into three – normal, sensitive and most sensitive, categories as far as security measures are concerned.
The police have identified around 200 spots as most sensitive areas, where extraordinary security measures will be put in place. “We are trying to increase use of non-conventional security methods, including sophisticated technology and scanning of the routes and areas from where processions will pass,” Ahmad Raza said.
It is also learnt that Imambargah Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Chowk Nawab Sahib, Koocha Qazi Khana, Imambargah Maulvi Feroz Ali, Koocha Miskeenan, Mohalla Peer Gillanian, Imambargah Syed Rajab Ali Shah, Chau-Hatta Mufti Baqir, Chowk Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazaar, Sonehri Masjid, Dabbi Bazaar, Gumtti Bazaar (Rang Mahal Chowk), Syed Mittha Bazaar, Tehsil Bazaar, Bazaar Hakimaan, Ucchi Masjid, Bhatti Chowk, Karbala Gamay Shah, Islampura, Jain Mandir, Old Anarkali, Ghazi Abad, Nickolson Road and Imamia Colony, have been identified as the most sensitive places, besides locations, in terms of security threats.
“We are also in touch with all the other security agencies and a proper monitoring room has also been planned to review the security situation,” the CCPO added.
The police will continue search and scanning operation in the most sensitive areas and on the on procession routes with help of modern scanners, sniffer dogs and human intelligence, days before the event. We have also planned to keep a check on rented houses, small shops and suspicious people in various areas throughout the City, and thousands of policemen and personnel from intelligence and other law enforcement agencies would also participate in the exercise.
He further said that in order to provide foolproof security for Youm-e-Ashur, the personnel of Quick Response Force (QRF), mobile squads would also be deployed amid massive armed patrolling.
Responding to a question about the security threats, Ahmad Raza Tahir said that the police are receiving “threat alerts” from the intelligence agencies frequently. “We are receiving threat alerts in this regard from other security agencies but not any specific,” the CCPO said. To another question, he said that the police are keeping close liaison with religious leaders and Ulemas of all school of thoughts to ensure peace.
(The Nation)
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