LAHORE: Lahore police high-ups remained busy in meetings with the district administration the whole day on Sunday to chalk out a strategy to handle the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s anti-government rally and avert any untoward situation on The Mall.

They also discussed all the options for Dr Tahirul Qadri’s travel to Lahore and the provision of necessary security.

The officials, privy to the Lahore police moves, claimed police were not issued any orders about enhanced security and crackdown on PAT leaders and activists until Sunday night. They said police would follow directions as soon as the security plan was issued on Monday (today), adding the authorities had not talked about any move to block PAT activists at city’s entry/exit points or within the city.

The officials said police were finalising a plan to provide complete security cover to Mr Qadri and his followers on The Mall.

According to a field police officer, he would follow only legal orders by the government and would avoid any unnecessary action against PAT activists and their arrests, keeping in view the backlash of Model Town episode.

Meanwhile, the security at Minhajul Quran Secretariat, outside Qadri’s residence, The Mall and 11 entry-exit points of the city was normal until 11:30pm with a police official concerned saying the security was expected to increase across the city. Police authorities claimed there were no arrests of PAT leaders and workers till the filing of this report. They also claimed they had still not received any directions to place containers, barriers and other hurdles on any entry point of the city.

CDGL

The City District Government Lahore (CDGL) has not yet taken any decision on Qadri’s rally on The Mall.

“The Home Department has formally conveyed to Dr Qadri and his family about a serious threat to them if they all lead the rally in a situation when the military operation is being conducted against militants in North Waziristan,” a senior CDGL official told Dawn on Sunday.He said the final decision on stopping Dr Qadri’s rally from entering The Mall or letting it go would be taken by the government after his arrival at Islamabad airport after assessing the size of the crowd.

“If the rally size is small, the government may allow it to enter The Mall and if it’s a big one, the government will not be able to handle it amid security threats to Dr Qadri and his family members,” the official said, adding that the rallies and processions were already banned on The Mall and some other major city roads under Section 144 imposed by the district coordination officer (DCO) and there was no plan to issue a notification afresh.

Another official quoted senior officials who said in a meeting on Sunday that if Dr Qadri had a huge crowd in the rally, the government would first request him to refrain from holding it on The Mall but if he insisted on doing so, the government would allow him.

“However, providing security to a huge crowd/rally will be a challenge,” the official said, adding that keeping in view the Model Town tragedy, the government had also advised the officials concerned, including the Lahore DCO, to avoid confronting Dr Qadri, his family and supporters on any issue and report to the top slots if they faced any untoward situation.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2014