LAHORE: The city police have drawn up a security plan for the much-trumpeted Independence Cup being hosted by Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium.

According to the plan, more than two dozen senior officers including some district police officers (DPOs) have been assigned tasks to provide security cover to the main cavalcade of the international cricketers.

In addition, an upward of 8,000 personnel of the Lahore police and officials of the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) will be deployed at various points besides the stadium. The army troops have also been asked to be ready for standby arrangements.

The police authorities have decided for the players five-tier security arrangements during their travel to and from the stadium. The biometric identification of all those coming to the stadium to watch the match has been declared mandatory and no one will be allowed to enter without showing the CNIC.

DPOs, Rangers to lead from the front

A senior police officer, while sharing details of the security plan with Dawn, said the prime focus of the law-enforcement agencies would be the hotel on The Mall where the guest cricketers would stay, Gaddafi Stadium and the routes.

He said three police officers -- Attock DPO Zahid Nawaz Murwat, Lahore Mobile Squad SP Faisal Shahzad and City Investigation SP Syed Karar Hussain Shah -- had been assigned task of providing security to the main cavalcade of the guest cricketers.

Lahore Cantonment Division SP Operations Rana Tahir Rehman Khan and Cantonment Division SP Investigation Dr Anosh Masood Chaudhry would discharge their duties at the inner and outer cordon of the Lahore Airport.

Dividing the main route from the airport to the hotel on The Mall in portions, three police officers have been deputed at various points to provide security cover to the main cavalcade of the international cricketers. The officers are Multan Cantonment SP Dr Fahad, Lahore VVIP Security SP Bilal Qayyum and Lahore City Operations SP Adil Memon.

Similarly, the security of the premises and the surroundings of the hotel had been handed over to four senior police officers -- Civil Lines Division SP Ali Raza, Lahore Anti-Riot Police SP Muhammad Naveed, Bilal Qayyum and Adil Memon, said the officer.

From the hotel to the stadium, he said, four portions had been handed over to Lahore High Court Security SP Ibrar Hussain, Raiwind Security SP Waqar Shoaib, Saddar Operations SP Rizwan Gondal and Model Town Investigation SP Mohammad Kashif.

Gujrat SP Muaz Zafar would be on duty outside the stadium entrance on Ferozepur Road and Faisalabad Operations SSP Rana Masoom Ali at the second entrance (from Gulberg side). Sheikhupura Investigation SP Shahbaz Elahi would be responsible for the inside security of all the gates of the stadium, Chiniot DPO Mustansar Feroze for Gaddafi Stadium ground and enclosure, and Model Town Operations SP Syed Husnain Haider would be responsible for the overall supervision of the stadium, he said.

According to the plan, Secretariat SP Hassan Sadiq and Lahore Saddar Investigation SP Mehar Mumtaz would be deputed at the parking lot near the FC College and Gujranwala Investigation SP Faisal Mukhtar at the parking lot at Liberty Market.

The plan says, “Lahore Legal SP Rana Latif and PC-1 Battalion Commander Mehmoodul Hassan Gilani have been deputed at the police pickets at the entry and exit points of the provincial capital.

“Gujranwala Saddar Division SP Nadeem Khokhar has been deputed for the supervision of the police picket being set up in the city. Lahore Crime Record Office SSP Imran Yaqoob has been assigned task to supervise the Control Room and CCTVs.”

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2017