PESHAWAR: The police have announced that they will deploy around 3,000 more personnel across the provincial capital to ensure peace during Eid days.

In a statement, the city police also announced the cancellation of the officials’ leaves on the occasion of Eidul Fitr in light of staff shortage.

They said the mobile and rider squad’s patrols would be increased all over the city, while security at the city’s entry and exit points had been beefed up.

The police said additional police personnel had been deployed at all important bazaars and roads, while plainclothes would keep an eye on suspects and criminals.

They said additional police guards had been deployed at important government and sensitive installations.

Police cancel officials’ leaves during festival

The police said they would deploy over 3,000 personnel outside eidgahs, mosques, bazaars, bus stands and other places in addition of policewomen and bomb disposal unit’s officials, while sniffer dogs would be used to check explosive materials in bazaars and markets.

Horse mounted police officials will be deployed in all major bazaars, while from Saturday night, the women police commandos will be deputed in Gora Bazaar of Peshawar Cantonment, which attract women shoppers in large numbers on Eid.

Also, the policewomen have been deployed in other bazaars frequented by women and that they will be there until 12am.

The police will also set up 101 checkposts at the city’s entry and exit points and other places to maintain law and order during Eid days, while officials have been told to keep an eye on hotels and inns to ensure peace. The police will carry out regular search and strike operations in their respective areas.

A large number of police officials will be deployed at eidgahs and mosques to provide security to Eid congregations.

The traffic police have deployed 1,000 wardens across the city to ensure smooth flow of traffic as people are thronging markets for Eid shopping.

In a statement issued here, the traffic police said wardens would be on duty until 2am.

All Saddar Road U-turns have been closed to prevent the people from inconvenience, while fork lifters have been deployed on University Road and in Saddar and city areas to ensure smooth traffic and check wrong parking.

Some roads of the interior city have been closed to avoid traffic congestion.

The traffic police asked the residents not to park vehicles alongside main roads to prevent congestions and road closures and said dedicated car parking should be used.

City police chief Qazi Jamilur Rehman warned that the residents firing in the air would be put behind bars.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2019