Inspector General of Police Punjab Tariq Saleem Dogar has directed the Regional Police Officers and District Police Officers that comprehensive security arrangements be ensured for the maintenance of peace and sectarian harmony during Moharram, across the province and the persons disrupting law & order be arrested on the spot.
He was addressing RPOs and DPOs conference at CPO here today. All the RPOs and DPOs of the province participated in the conference. The participants of the conference elaborately reviewed and discussed the security measures taken on the occasion of Moharram; keeping in view the present security concerns.
Addressing the meeting, the IG directed the DPOs that all kind of information regarding venues of Majalis Aza and routs of processions should be kept update with the cooperation of different intelligence agencies and close liaison be made with the peace committees at Thana , Circle and district levels. He said that complete videos of all Majalis/precessions be prepared so that the participants could be identified. He also directed that CCTV Cameras be installed at the venues of Majalis, processions and Imambargas and the organizers of majalis / processions should be held responsible for the behaviour of Zakreen, Ulma karam and other speakers.
The IG further directed that the planning for the protection of venues of Majalis and routs of processions should be made carefully and in this connection the instructions given by CPO be implemented in letter and spirit. He also said that extra ordinary security arrangements be made for the sensitive districts and special teams for the immediate apprehension of notorious POs be constituted at Thana level.
The IG further directed the Field Police Officers that male and female security volunteers of organizers of Majalis / processions be included in the security measures who would not allow the un-identified persons to come close to the Majalis and processions. The IG said that fool proof security arrangements should be made for the protection of mosques, ImambargasS, other worship places and important personalities and modern equipments/resources be utilized for this purposeS. He urged the DPOs that the ban imposed on the misuse of loud speaker and objectionable-hate material / hand bills, posters be implemented strictly and strict legal action should be taken against the responsible authors, publishers and printers of the objectionable materials. The IG also directed that tight security arrangements be made during Ashura days 9th and 10th of Moharram-ul-Harram in the shape of contingents of rapid response, mobile squads, anti-riots platoons, reserves and the DPOs should personally brief the personnel deployed for security duties about the sensitive places and gravity of the situation. He said three rings of security be established for such localities in the shape of sealing the roads connecting with these places and deployment of police personnel at top roofs of the surrounding houses. The special attention be given towards the entry, exit points of these places, car parkings, book stalls and water sabeels, the IG added.
The IG also directed the DIG Traffic police for preparation of special traffic plan for this purpose so that the processions could move un-interruptedly, in order to ensure smooth flow of traffic and alternate arrangements for the convenience of the citizens. He maintained that with a view to keeping a vigil eye on the activities of suspicious elements, the police personnel in plan cloth as well as uniform be deployed at bus stands, railways stations and other suspected places. The IG directed that senior police officers should personally check security arrangements and take sever action against the police officers / officials indulging in negligence in duties. The IG also directed that high alert security arrangements be maintained after 10 Moharam to month of Safar. The meeting was informed that approximately 36031 majalis would be held; while 9690 mourning processions be taken out in the province and 126117 police force including PQRs and special police force would be deployed for the provision of effective security cover. Moreover, in case of requirement the services of Pakistan Army and Rangers would also be taken in the sensitive points / districts.
Source: Director Public Relations, Punjab Police.
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