ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory police have finalised a security and patrolling plan for the eve of Al Quds Day, chand raat and Eidul Fitr. Security has also been tightened around public places, worship places and other important buildings.

The security plan was finalised on Wednesday at a meeting presided over by SSP (Operations) Sajid Kiani which was attended by all senior officials.

The SSP has directed for security to be enhanced around mosques, imambargahs and exit and entry points to the city on the eve of Yaum Al Quds. Islamabad police, Rangers and police commandos will be deployed along the procession route to ensure safety of the people. All officials have been asked to remain on alert and be prepared to avert any untoward incident during Eid.

According to the plan, more than 2,500 policemen will perform security duties on Eid and will guard places of worship and public gatherings. The Bomb Disposal Squad will be conducting checks and parking will not be allowed near worship places or congregations.

The SSP has cancelled holidays of police officials and directed more patrolling during the ongoing week when Eid shopping will be at its peak. Beat systems have been introduced for providing security at main shopping centres, markets and additional police personnel have been deployed for chand raat. Contingents of mobile reserve police and prisoner van movement are also part of security measures for shopping centres including Jinnah Super, Super Market, F-10 and Aabpara.

Policemen have been assigned duties at bus stands, graveyards and railway stations and special deployments will be made at Faisal Mosque on Eid day. Special police pickets have been established near bus stands where passengers will be checked.

A patrolling plan has been made as well following which vehicles of police station, Falcon and Bravo vehicles will patrol their respective areas and police stations have been provided additional vehicles for this.

Security measures have also been tightened in Rawalpindi as well and 1,500 police personnel have been deployed to guard mosques and imambargahs on Jummatul Wida, or the last Friday of Ramazan.

These will include Elite Force Commandos and Special Branch officials, a police official said.

All those entering mosques and imambargahs will be body searched and parking spaces will be designated at a distance from places of worship.

Jummatul Wida prayers will be held in open places and worshippers will be searched. Walk-through gates will be installed at places of worship categorised as sensitive. Some roads will be closed to traffic and a ban will be imposed on loudspeakers. Vehicles entering the city will be checked.

A senior police official said there is no specific terror threat and that these measures are only precautionary.

The city’s traffic police have also made a traffic plan for Jummatul Wida following which extra traffic wardens will be deployed outside large mosques and traffic rules implemented.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2017