Police to readjust VIP security after removal of roadblocks

Feb 13, 2018

LAHORE - Punjab Police Inspector General Arif Nawaz Khan on Monday ordered his force to re-adjust security plan for the Governor’s House, Chief Minister’s residence, and key police installations.

The move comes after the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the removal of security barricades from several key sites in the metropolis, including the residences of former PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The IGP while presiding over a meeting at the central police office on Monday said that an alternate and foolproof security plan of Chief Minister’s residence, Governor’s House and the Central Police Office should be re-adjusted keeping in mind the orders of the top court and public convenience.

Lahore CCPO Muhammad Amin Wains, Additional-IG Aamir Zulfiqar Khan, Faisal Shahkar, Rai Tahir, DIG Haider Ashraf, and SP Security Amara Athar were also present in the meeting. According to a police spokesman, security related issues especially after removal of barricades from outside the important government installations were discussed in the meeting.

On this occasion, the IGP said that the issue related to security barriers outside police headquarters should be resolved on permanent basis and unnecessary blockage of roads with encroachment must be stopped.

Lahore police chief Muhammad Amin Wains told the IGP that the security barriers had been removed from outside all the police headquarters. He said that all roads outside police headquarters are open for general traffic in Lahore.

He further said that Lahore police is completely aware of its duties and challenges. The police officers with their field force will perform their duties without any hesitation, the CCPO said. The IGP on this occasion advised the police officers that the security strategies must be implemented in the light of court directions.

Authorities on Sunday evening launched a major operation to remove barricades and obstacles placed outside different key government installations and other sites in Lahore including the Governor’s House and Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Several officials of the city district government rushed to the sites on Sunday evening and launched the operation to clear the roads for general public. Earlier, the court ordered the authorities to remove barricades outside Nawaz Sharif's Jati Umra residence, Shehbaz's Model Town residence and office, Governor House, Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Jamia Al-Qadsia, the residence and seminary of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, residence of late Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Qilla Gujjar Singh Police Station, passport office and other sites.

(The Nation)

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