RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government on Wednesday extended anti-polio campaign for two days and asked the Punjab Police to provide security to each vaccination team.

The decision to provide security was taken following the murder of anti-polio vaccinator in Faisalabad on Tuesday.

The two-day campaign which started on December 8 will now end on December 12.

The Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada conveyed these directives while addressing a meeting at Commissioner Office Rawalpindi through a video link.

Besides anti-polio campaign, the meeting also reviewed security arrangements for Chelum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) being held on December 13.

The home minister informed the meeting that the government had decided to provide security to all teams.

Each team comprising two vaccinators will have a policeman for their security.

Since the Punjab police is short of manpower, the government had reduced the number of polio teams, but extended the campaign for two days.  

Each team will be provided security cover

Commissioner Zahid Saeed informed the meeting that the local administration of Jhelum had reduced the teams to 120 from 355 teams.

He said that three other districts of Rawalpindi Division including Rawalpindi, Attock and Chakwal would also reduce the number of mobile teams.

In Rawalpindi, the number of teams will be cut to 600 from 1,850.

However, the teams deployed at transit points and basic health units will not be reduced.

The Punjab home minister and chief secretary were briefed about the security arrangements for Chelum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

The commissioner told them that Army, Rangers and police personnel would be deployed on the traditional route of the mourning procession in the district.

More than 300 CCTV cameras will be installed on the main procession route in Raja Bazaar.

The city administration will carry out air surveillance of the procession besides activating control rooms.

Mobile phone service will remain suspended on the route of main procession.

The Punjab home minister and chief secretary directed the local administration and police to take the religious leaders from all schools of thought on board to avoid sectarian violence.

On this the local administration informed the home minister that the security arrangements had been made on the recommendation of Shia and Sunni leaders.

The religious leaders will lead the procession to avoid violence and the law enforcement agencies will secure the area against any terrorist activity.

Published in Dawn December 11th , 2014