05 October 2004	Tuesday	19 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 4: Sindh IG Syed Kamal Shah has suggested to the management bodies of mosques and Imambargahs to introduce checking through metal-detectors at the gates of places of worship and maintain lists of those coming to offer the prayers.

Presiding over a meeting held on Monday to review security measures in the city, the IG said respective managements should arrange volunteers at mosques and Imambargahs, to be deployed at the rooftops and main gates of such places for keeping a vigil on suspected persons, a release said on Sunday.

He also suggested installation of close circuit televisions at the places of worship to monitor the activities of people through video recording. "The parking of motorcycles, cars and other vehicles near the mosques and Imambargahs should strictly be prohibited as a preventive measure," he added.

Meanwhile, the city police have taken stringent security steps for the one-day cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to be played here on Oct 6. A police spokesman said that it would need the cooperation of people to make these security measures more effective.

He recalled that on the occasion of Pakistan-India match on March 13, this year, the people had demonstrated exemplary discipline and sense of responsibility. For the Oct 6 match, the same spirit was required, he added.

It was pointed out that only the ticket-holders would be allowed to move towards the stadium besides those in possession of duty passes or invitations from cricket board.

For this purpose, checking would be carried out at Amir Khusro Road-Habib Rehmatoola Road crossing, Hasan Square, PSO petrol pump near the Aga Khan Hospital, KDA Chowrangi behind the National Stadium, Army Housing Scheme and Dalmia Road crossing, the spokesman said.

Only those vehicles having parking lot-A stickers, would be allowed to enter from the stadium gate, and the rest would park their vehicles at the Expo Centre, China Ground, National Coaching Centre and Army Housing Scheme Ground, he said, adding that a shuttle service would be run from the Expo Centre to the stadium. Since the PCB had made arrangements for drinking water, the visitors would not be allowed to bring any thermos etc for water or tea.

According to police, people will not be allowed to bring cameras, binocular, radio or any metal object. However, mobile telephones will be exempted from this restriction. The seats in Hanif Mohammed, Javed Miandad and Fazal Mahmood enclosures will carry numbers and visitors have been requested to occupy the seats according to these numbers. The PCB volunteers will be there to guide them. -APP