LAHORE: Amid looming general and specific threats in the provincial capital on Youm-i-Ashur, the city police authorities chalked out three different security strategies to secure main Zuljinnah procession, majalis, 61 known figures and key government establishments.

Police sources told Dawn a major security plan which was being extensively prepared by DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf carried the counter-terrorism contingency plan, communication plan and the general security deployment plan.

They said the intelligence reports suggested that the Khurasani terrorist network and banned Lashkar-i-Jhangi might strike main Zuljinnah processions in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

The Lahore police have received specific threats against 61 personalities, including Shia scholars and a couple of journalists, and around 10 sensitive places including Imambargahs, Wagah border, Lahore airport and the Punjab Assembly.

The mode of attacks can be target killings and suicide and bomb attacks by terrorists who have completed rekey of personalities and sensitive places, sources said while quoting threat alerts.

Some target killers detained by intelligence agencies and Lahore police in June 2014 had disclosed about targeted attacks by their accomplices, sources said.

According to a special report, members of the LJ, TTP and a subsidiary of al-Qaeda have planned terrorist attacks in Lahore.

Sources said police had devised a comprehensive security plan which would cover static deployments at targeted places and venues, enhanced patrolling, picketing, search operations and arrest of the people wanted in fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

They said the security plan also included stand-by contingency arrangements to deal with any untoward incident.

Sources said six army companies and three reserves of Pakistan Rangers would also perform static and patrol duties in and around all major processions.

They said a four-layer security would be adopted to allow participants to enter processions which would heavily be guarded by surveillance cameras, barbed wires, walk-through gates, snipers, sniffer dogs, sweeping equipment and an army of armed police force.

CCPO retired Capt Amin Wains said the deployment of Rangers and the army personnel would be started from Saturday (today).

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2014