RAWALPINDI, Jan 24: Intelligence authorities have lodged a complaint against five public utilities, alleging that they have not cooperated in security arrangements prior to Chehlum procession, Dawn has learnt.
Despite repeated requests for their cooperation, the departments have not sent their special teams. If this practice of the utilities — Sui-Gas, Post Office, PTCL, Wapda and Tehsil Municipal Authority – continues it could, given the prevailing security situation, make Milad processions more vulnerable to terrorist strikes.
The Punjab home department had previously been warned by the National Crisis Management Cell that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan might be planning strikes in five big cities in the province.
Considering the possibility of terrorist strikes on processions and law enforcement personnel during Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the department is determined to ensure safety during this period.
In this regard, the Punjab home department had directed the agencies concerned to associate themselves with the Special Branch for the search and sweeping of the routes and venues of processions when needed.
The necessary screening of routes and venues cannot be adequately carried out without the cooperation of these departments, the report continues.
According to our sources, the intelligence agencies have asked that the deputy commissioners of Punjab contact the representatives of the allied departments to explain why their teams have not contributed to this effort.
The security preparations for Eid include deployment of as many as 6,500 police personnel, and 600 Punjab Constabulary personnel in Rawalpindi district. Ladies' police, Special Branch officials, bomb disposal squads and Elite Forces commandoes will also be deployed at sensitive places.
The public utilities are assigned duties to protect their installations and facilitate not only the participants of processions but intelligence agencies as well.
Teshil Municipal Authority (TMA) removes encroachments, which could be a security risk for the processions, from the route.
Other departments like Wapda and PTCL ensure their service for the processions.