Lahore:Capital City Police Officer Additional IG Ghulam Mahmood Dogar visited Walled City to inspect around seven kilometers route of the main mourning procession of Youm e Aashur from Nisar Haveli Mochi Gate to Karbala Gamay Shah.
DIG Operations Sajid Kiani, SP City Division Hassan Jahangir and other police officers accompanied him. SP City Hasan Jahangir briefed CCPO Lahore and other senior officers regarding the security arrangements. He informed there are 22 imambargahs of category ‘A’ whereas as many as 1190 Majalis and 235 mourning processions will be held in the city division during the sacred month of Moharram ul Harram. CCPO Lahore also met with the organizers, license holders along with Shia community leaders and assured them foolproof security by Lahore Pilice on Muharram ul Harram. Lahore Police has been working thoroughly on its security strategy for the programs of Muharram including main mourning processions of Youm-e-Aashur to be observed on 9th and 10th of forthcoming Muharram ul Harram, he added. Around fifteen thousands Police officials and officers will perform duties to provide complete protection to the participants of the mourning processions and other related programmers of Muharram as well as Youm-e-Aashur. The Walled city has been divided into different sectors and sub sectors according to the primary Security Plan. Commander Lahore Police Ghulam Mahmood Dogar said that the most important and sensitive assignment of Lahore Police will be to provide foolproof security to the main mourning procession and related programs of Youm-e-Ashur. Lahore Police has been doing consultation with members of District and Local Peace Committees, religious and local representatives, traders, businessman and residents of the area on daily basis to ensure a peaceful atmosphere at the programs of Youm-e-Aashur, starting from Nisar Haveli Mochi Gate to Qarbala Gamay Shah. Security audit has been completed of all the streets, markets, commercial and residential areas alongwith shops on the route of main procession, he added. Surety bonds have also been achieved from the related persons and residents of the area. More than 600 CCTV cameras would be installed on all the route of main procession by Punjab Safe Cities Authority and district government. The participants of Youm-e-Aashur program will only be allowed to enter the procession after complete checking by Police officials and volunteers by metal detectors and Walk Through Gates. The entrances of more than 190 streets falling under seven kilometers long route of main procession will be closed through barriers and bob wires . Snipers will be installed on high roofs to monitor all the movements of the procession and any possible suspects. The volunteers have also being provided necessary training of checking individuals under Community Policing at District Police Lines Qilla Gujjar Singh. Police officials in civil dresses will be deputed on the rout of procession to keep an eye on suspects. Ghulam Mahmood Dogar further said that Search and Sweep Operations are being continued to ensure peace and law and order at Youm-e-Aashur under National Action Plan. Data of the citizens is being checked at houses, hotels, guest houses, businessmen stops and railway stations through geofencing, biometric verification and Hotel Eye app as well. The monitoring of the main procession will continue through a special mechanism at the control rooms of then made Punjab Safe Cities Authority and Deputy Commissioner offices. CCPO Lahore said that physical as well as electronic barriers will also be installed to ensure safety of the participants of main procession. The relevant areas of the Walled city will be sealed completely. Checking of the citizens and vehicles is continued at Exit and Entrance points of the city alongwith special pickets being setup at gates of the Walled City. Parking arrangements will separately be ensured for the facilitation of the participants of main procession of Youm-e-Ashur, he concluded.
