PESHAWAR: The police have announced the deployment of around 3,000 personnel across the provincial capital during Ramazan to protect main bazaars, mosques and other sensitive places.

In a statement, a spokesman for the city police said a security plan had been formulated to maintain peace during the month of fasting under which armoured personnel carriers, mobile and rider squads would patrol streets.

“Around 3,000 police personnel will be deployed in Peshawar to provide security to main bazaars, mosques and other sensitive places during the month. Also, four APCs, 30 mobile and 30 rider squads will patrol the streets during the month. Twenty-two special mobile teams will patrol streets during iftar and sehar timings,” he said.

The spokesman said over 1,800 police officials would ensure security of taraweeh prayers in 763 mosques all over the city. He added that plainclothesmen and policewomen would be deployed in major bazaars, while foot patrol had been increased to provide security to traders and people in crowded places.

CM orders effective security measures in fasting month

The spokesman said the bomb disposal unit and sniffer dogs would be deputed in major bazaars.

He said the police had decided to ban the entry of vehicles to interior city during the last 10 days of Ramazan, while men won’t be allowed to enter women-only bazaars.

Also in the day, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House about Ramazan security measures and directed the officials concerned to make effective security arrangements for the city during the month of fasting.

A statement issued here said Mr Mahmood also directed the police chief to ensure patrolling of police officers during congressional prayers, especially taraweeh, in Ramazan.

The meeting was attended by information minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, chief secretary Mohammad Saleem Khan, principal secretary to CM Shahab Ali Shah, inspector general police Naeem Khan, all divisional commissioners, DIGs and other senior officers.

The meeting was briefed on the prevailing law and order situation, security arrangements for Ramazan and progress on policing in the newly merged districts.

The officials told the meeting that special committees had been established at district and divisional level to make appropriate security arrangements in Ramazan, whereas instructions had been issued to RPOs and DPOs for strict surveillance of militant and anti-social elements.

They said instructions had been issued to RPOs and DPOs for holding surprise visits to marketplaces to check overcharging and hoarding and ensure implementation of the government-approved market rates.

The officials said the special police reserves had also been raised to meet any emergency, whereas special measures would be undertaken to control the misuse of loudspeakers in the month.

The chief minister expressed satisfaction with the Ramazan security arrangements and said the performance review of all officers concerned would be held after one month and all those found negligent in their duties would be dealt with strictly.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2019