PESHAWAR: The capital city police have deployed 4,500 personnel to maintain law and order in the provincial metropolis under the security plan for Eidul Azha.

Leaves of policemen have been cancelled and frequency of police patrols across the city increased with strict vigilance at the entry and exit points of the metropolis, according to a statement issued on Monday.

Policemen have been deployed in all the major bazaars of the city and cattle markets.

Additionally, the traffic police have deployed 1,000 wardens to keep traffic flow on roads smooth during the Eid days.

The statement quoted capital city police officer Abbas Ahsan as asking the police officials to strictly implement the security plan to ensure peace on Eid. He also directed to ensure implementation of Covid-19-related standard operating procedures.

In Swabi, the police, under the Eid security plan, have deployed personnel at the entry and exit points of the district to keep watch on anti-social elements.

This was disclosed by district police officer Mohammad Shoaib Khan while speaking at a meeting on Monday.

DSPs of the four tehsils and all the SHOs were in attendance.

The meeting was informed that firing in the air and use of firecrackers on the festive occasion had been banned. It was told that members of local jirgas had extended cooperation in effectively implementing the Eid security plan.

The participants were told that patrolling on roads and streets had been increased during the nighttime.

Eid congregations would be provided foolproof security and strict adherence to coronavirus-related SOPs would be ensured.

In Kohat, over 1,500 policemen have been deployed in the city and its outskirts as part of a security plan to secure worship places, trade centres and other sensitive areas ahead of Eidul Azha.

District police officer Sohail Khalid on Monday directed sub-divisional police officers and SHOs to increase patrolling, and the bomb disposal squad to sweep the trade centres during rush hours.

He said 10 quick response squads would also assist the police in implementing the security plan.

He said a special traffic plan had been devised to maintain smooth flow of traffic in the city bazaars.

He said duty hours of wardens had been extended with the increase in number of traffic points.

The DPO also instructed the police to strengthen security at entry and exit points of the city, and increase search and strike operations to prevent any untoward incident.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2021