October 29, 2002	Tuesday	Sha’aban 22,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: The police have declared 21 mosques in the capital sensitive points and decided to beef up security in their vicinity during the holy month of Ramazan.

Police sources said all private security agencies had been asked to provide guards free of cost for this purpose.

Similarly, different trader unions have also been asked to provide guards at the mosques in their markets at their own expenses.

All the station house officers (SHOs) have been directed to hold meetings with the mosque management committees, located in the their jurisdictions, so as to implement the security plan in a better way.

According to the plan, at least two guards each would be deployed at all mosques during Taraveeh. “At least one guard of a private security agency will remain inside the mosque and a gunman will be deployed at the gate,” the sources added.

The plan said only one gate of all mosques would be used for the exit and entrance purposes.

Meanwhile, a source told Dawn that in view of increasing incidents of terrorism, army might be called out in the federal capital.

Similarly, paramilitary troops and commandos of elite force would also be deployed at all mosques, imambargahs and other sensitive places to maintain law and order and provide security to the people.

The officials of district administration and police will meet on October 31 to beef up security in the capital.

Our Staff Reporter from Rawalpindi adds: The district government here on Monday directed the Tehsil administrations to beef up security arrangements at mosques, Imambargahs, shrines and other religious places during Ramazan.

District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani, while presiding over a meeting of Tehsil Nazimeen, asked them to coordinate arrangements with the local police and administration of religious places falling in the area of their jurisdiction.

Talking to this reporter, Mr Kiani said: “We have tried to involve the local community in the security arrangements. The Tehsil Nazimeen have asked to talk to the administrations of the mosques to arrange private security guards and youth of the area.”

The district police chief, he said, had been told to assign security duties to the youth of the locality having weapon licences on the recommendation of area mosques and Imambargah committees.

The Nazim said the watch and ward system in the neighbourhoods was being strengthened and coordinated with other security arrangements, both private and official.

He said the Tehsil Nazimeen were further told to keep a strict vigil at the bus stands, animal markets, shopping places and other public places to avoid any untoward incident.

The Tehsil administrations were directed to point out gambling places, drug-supply points, prostitution dens and other places frequented by anti-social elements.

The district government, the Nazim said, planned to initiate a crackdown against these places. He offered to keep secret the identity of all citizens, representatives of traders’ body and union council Nazimeen, who could help in identifying such places or providing vital information regarding them. Such information, Mr Kiani said, could be passed to him.

He appealed to the citizens to extend a helping hand in this drive against anti-social elements, saying it was the responsibility of all to help in getting rid of such people from their area.