LAHORE: As many as 4,000 policemen were deployed for the security of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) public gathering at the Greater Iqbal Park (Minar-e-Pakistan) on Sunday.

The venue was cordoned off with barbed wire, tents and barricades, with three entry points for the participants, including the one for VIP movement.

Deputy Inspector General (operations) Dr Haider Ashraf told Dawn that police had received several threats to the life of Imran Khan and the PTI chairman was informed of these. He said given the threats a special security plan was devised for the PTI chief and Elite Force personnel were deployed for the purpose.

He said 4,000 policemen had been deployed in and around the venue for the security of the rally participants.

The police had arranged three-tier security for the participants before they were allowed to enter the venue. Walk-through gates were installed at entry and exist points of the venue where police officials frisked the participants manually and with metal detectors.

Separate cabins were installed for checking women participants by policewomen, while plainclothesmen were also deployed to keep an eye on any suspicious person or activity.

The venue and its surroundings were also monitored through CCTV cameras installed by the Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA).

Earlier, the park was cleared for the rally through sniffer dogs by the Bomb Disposal Squad and police’s special branch.

The Police Response Unit (PRU) and Dolphin Squad personnel kept on patrolling in and around the park to handle any emergency situation.

Chief Traffic Police Officer (CTO) Rai Ijaz Ahmad, SP City (operations) Ali Raza and other police officers visited the venue and reviewed the security arrangements.

The teams of Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) and Edhi Ambulance Service also remained alert to respond in case of any emergency.

The traffic police had prepared a comprehensive plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic on city roads before and after the PTI rally. According to the plan, 710 traffic wardens, 90 patrolling officers, 48 inspectors and 11 DSPs were deployed under the supervision of Sadar and City divisions SPs. Besides, 18 fork-lifters, two break-down vans and four traffic squads were also deployed.

The participants were directed to use the Ring Road to reach the venue, while the Lower Mall, Outfall Road, Mall Road, Jail Road, Canal Road and Ferozepur Road were open for traffic. The road from Shahdara to Old Ravi Bridge also remained open for traffic.

The traffic leaving the city from the Civil Secretariat to Shahdara was diverted to Outfall Road, Saggian Bridge, Ring Road and Al-Saeed Chowk and vice versa.

Heavy traffic was diverted from Kala Shah Kaku, Kot Abdul Malik, Faizpur Interchange, Begum Kot Chowk, Shahdara Chowk and Barkat Bridge.

The parking arrangements were made at the Greater Iqbal Park, forestry department’s parking, Kashmiri Gate, Maulana Ahmad Ali Road and Data Nagar.

The participants had to wait in long queues before they were allowed into the venue through separate gates for men and women.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2018