KARACHI: The Sindh home ministry on Saturday announced ‘foolproof’ arrangements for the security of mosques, Eidgahs and Imambargahs on Eidul Fitr in view of the renewed terrorist attacks across the country, killing scores of people just on Friday, officials said.

“All the places where Eid prayers are scheduled to be held would be given foolproof security,” said Home Minister Sohail Anwer Siyal.

The home ministry said a total of 3,664 mosques, 447 Eidgahs or open spaces, 230 Imambargahs or Jamaatkhanas were in various zones of the city.

A total of 9,135 policemen, including senior officers, have been assigned to provide security to them — a little more than two policemen would be there to secure an establishment on average.

However, officials said, the division of the assigned force would be made in accordance with the threat perception in a particular area or certain place for Eid prayers.

“A further segregation is being made by which most sensitive, sensitive and normal places would be defined and given security accordingly,” a senior official in the home ministry told Dawn.

Keeping in view that providing such sweeping security cover was not possible for the police force stationed in the city, the ministry had ordered six platoons of the Rapid Response Force to join the effort. Besides, reserve platoons of district headquarters were also there to assist them.

Apart from the places where Eid prayers would be offered the security would also be given to a number of shrines and graveyards.

The Special Branch of the police had been asked to make the security plan further effective so that no untoward incident would happen.

“All the ranges of the Sindh police and zone DIGs have been ordered not to show any complacency, especially during Eid prayers. Anyone who is found showing negligence would be treated with stern departmental action,” said Minister Siyal while speaking to reporters at his office.

An official in the home ministry said in another notification that the ministry had also ordered that security be tightened at public and recreational places, including parks, during Eid days when people would celebrate the festivities there with families.

Officials said the traffic police had been told to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city during the three days of Eid.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2017