LAHORE: Around 83,824 policemen, 45,944 volunteers and 13,169 private security guards will be deployed at all religious places across the province to ensure foolproof security during Ramazan.

There are 33,839 mosques, 2,296 Imambargahs, Ramazan bazaars and dastarkhwans throughout the province where 1,713 walkthrough gates and 20,249 metal detectors will be installed to ensure security.

Inspector General of Police Usman Khatak said while addressing an RPOs and DPOs’ video-link conference at the Central Police Office on Friday. Addl IG Operations Mohsin Hasan, Addl IG Discipline and Inspection Ijaz Hasan, DIG Operations Aamir Zulfiqar, DIG R&D Ahmad Ishaque and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.

The IG directed the RPOs and DPOs to devise a security plan for Ramazan in their respective districts. He said field officers should make ensure checking of hotels, inns and guest houses, reports of which should be sent to the IG office by Monday. He directed the field officers that the vehicles checking at entry and exit points of all districts should be ensured and combing operations in sensitive areas be conducted regularly.

Mr Khatak directed the DIG traffic to issue a traffic plan for all districts and personally monitor preparation and implantation of the plan during this month. He said all available resources should be utilised to ensure smooth flow of traffic, particularly during Sehr and Iftar timings.

He said police officials should be deployed on rooftops of all A-category mosques and imambargahs, and a security plan for B and C categories would be formed in consultation with mosque committees and administrators of imambargahs. He said policemen should be deployed to search worshipers and no one should be allowed to enter the place without frisking. He directed the authorities to use a single entry and exit point at these worship places.

While directing about the security of banks, the IG said the police should ensure that banks were following security SOPs and action should be taken against the bank administration failed to do so.

He also directed RPOs and DPOs to regularly check inter-provincial and riverine check-posts in their respective areas and provide maximum facilities to the officials deployed at these check posts.

In Lahore, around 7,000 policemen and 5,406 volunteers will be deployed at all religious places to ensure foolproof security.

The Dolphin and Police Response Unit will continue patrolling in and around the religious places. All station house officers will visit mosques and imambargahs in their respective areas to review security arrangements and discourage unnecessary use of loudspeaker. Parking areas will be established at least 100 metres from a worship place.

SP Security Abadit Nisar told Dawn the volunteers were being deployed after proper verification and training at police lines. He said he would visit various areas at Sehr and Iftar and not tolerate negligence or dereliction of duty by any police officer or official.

CTO: Chief Traffic Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmad has said 1,300 wardens will be deployed on different city roads to manage traffic.

At a meeting at Qurban Lines, he said 150 wardens would ensure smooth flow of traffic while 100 officers would patrol near Ramazan bazaars. He said strict action would be taken against street vendors and beggars during Iftar timings and a campaign would also be launched against encroachments.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2017