ISLAMABAD: The police on Saturday reviewed security arrangements for Muharram and decided to increase patrolling in some areas.

A press release said that security arrangements were discussed in a meeting presided over by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Mohammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan and attended by the deputy inspectors general of police (DIG), assistant inspectors general of police, senior superintendents of police (SP), additional superintendents of police and all zonal superintendents of police (SP).

IGP Khan directed DIG (Operations) Waqaruddin Syed to devise an elaborate security plan and supervise all the arrangements himself. He also directed all police officials to maintain close liaison with peace committees and majalis and procession organisers, and said special cards should be issued to police deputed for security at religious gatherings and imambargahs.

There should be strict security at gatherings and participants should be checked, he said, while vigilance should be maintained using the Safe City system.

The entry of all kinds of vehicles in imambargahs’ surroundings will be prohibited, and barbed wire will be placed around venues of gatherings while police officials will be deployed on the rooftops of buildings on procession routes.

The Safe City director general was told to monitor all kinds of movement around imambargahs and religious gatherings using CCTV cameras.

IGP Khan said arrangements should be made to checkmajalisand procession participants using metal detectors. Walk-through gates should be installed at points of exit and entry into majalis and processions and they should be covered by a large strength of police.

All SPs have been asked to monitor search operations themselves and inform senior officials of progress on a daily basis.

The SSP (Traffic) was directed to issue a plan to ensure traffic flows smoothly on alternate routes during processions, and to ensure that car parks are far away from imambargahs.

The DIG (Headquarters) will provide logistics support during Muharram, he said and asked all SPs to conduct meetings with imambargah organisers to share security arrangements and implementation on timings planned for processions.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2020