Over 10,000 security personnel to guard Muharram gatherings in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, October 13: As many as 10,000 personnel of Islamabad Police and
Pakistan Rangers would perform security duties during Muharram ul Haram and
to maintain high vigilance to thwart any untoward incident.
Islamabad Police have finalized comprehensive security arrangements for the
processions, religious gatherings during Muharram ul Harram and decided to
launch combing as well as search operations in various slum areas of the
city including Afghan habitats to ensure fool proof security.
This plan has been prepared by SSP Islamabad Sajid Kiani keeping in view
National Action Plan following directions of IGP Islamabad Tahir Alam Khan.
All wings of Islamabad police have been also given directions to ensure
complete coordination for success of this plan.
As per strategy, activities of people being put under surveillance
following fourth schedule will be strictly monitored. Similarly, those
scholars or persons from defunct organizations banned to enter in Islamabad
would not be allowed at any cost to participate in kind of activity.
The SSP has directed all SDPOs and SHOs to launch effective search
operation as well as combing activities in the slum areas of the city
including Afghan habitats and enhance vigilance at all entrance points of
the city. He asked SSP (Operation) to himself monitor this search operation
while and relevant SPs have been also asked to inform his office on daily
basis about progress in this regard.
He also directed to maintain close liaison with peace committees and and
organizers of Majalis and processions. He said that cooperation of
organizers should be ensured with the police and law enforcing officials.
A total of 909 religious gatherings (Majalis) and 177 processions (159
traditional and 18 licensed) will be held. The religious gatherings have
been divided into three categories as per security aspect and 122 Majalis
have been placed in Category A, 492 in Category B and 295 in Category C
while 14 processions have been put in Category A, 91 in Category B and 72
in Category C.
The SSP ha directed for strict security arrangements on these occasions and
special checking of participants.
He said that it should be ensured to make arrangements for checking of
participants of Majalis and processions thorough using metal detectors.
Strict vigilance should be maintained to ensure that security measures are
in place by the police as well as peace committees, the SSP maintained.
Rangers will also assist Islamabad police to ensure elaborate security
arrangements. The SSP also ordered all SHOs to make proper light
arrangements after negotiations with concerned authorities and also to weed
out bushes in the various areas in the vicinity of worship places.
He said that it should be ensured that processions will pass through the
fixed routes and timings of processions to be observed strictly. He has
also directed for effective patrolling and use commando vehicles for the
purpose.
The IGP directed for maintaining close coordination among all wings of
Islamabad police and staff. The IGP asked SSP (Traffic) to ensure
arrangements for avoiding any inconvenience to road users and special
deployment should be made for smooth flow of traffic at alternate
routes when processions will be carried out. It should be ensured that
Parking lots to be far away from the processions with proper security
arrangements there and metal detectors would be used at entry and exit
points too.
The SSP has said that walk through gates must be installed at all entry and
exit points of Majalis and processions and it should be covered through
large strength of policemen.He also asked all SPs, SDPOs to take steps to
curb wall chalking or pasting posters which may hurt sentiments of people.
Patrolling officers must conduct visit of all the routes of Muharram
processions and Imambargahs and rooftops to be covered by the police
officials. The IGP said that lady Police should be deputed for the female
gatherings while police officers and Jawans would perform security duties
outside the Imambargahs.
All Station House Officers (SHOs) should get the complete biodata of those
volunteers performing security duties. Peace committees would be asked to
ensure that no stranger is allowed to stay in the worship places for
security reasons during the month of Muharram.
It will be also mandatory for the participants and organizers of the
processions to get clearance certificates from the concerned police station
before its start as a part of effective security measure.