ISLAMABAD: As many as 12,000 personnel of the Islamabad Police, Pakistan Rangers and the FC would perform security duties during Muharram-ul-Haram and to maintain high vigilance to thwart any untoward incident.

The Islamabad Police have finalized comprehensive security arrangements for the processions, religious gatherings during Muharram-ul-Harram and decided to launch combing as well as search operations in various slum areas of the city including Afghan habitats to ensure foolproof security, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.

This plan has been prepared by SSP Islamabad Najeeb-ur-Rehman Bugvi following directions of IGP Islamabad Jan Muhammad. All wings of Islamabad Police have been given directions to ensure complete coordination for success of this plan. The SSP has directed all SDPOs and SHOs to launch effective search operations as well as combing activities in the slum areas of the city including Afghan habitats and enhance vigilance at all entrance points of the city. All SPs have been asked to monitor this search operation themselves and inform SSP’s office on daily basis about progress in this regard.

He also directed to maintain close liaison with peace committees and organizers of Majalis and processions. He said that cooperation of organizers should be ensured with the police and law enforcing officials.

A total of 909 religious gatherings (majalis) and 177 processions will be held. The SSP ha directed for strict security arrangements on these occasions and special checking of participants. He said that it should be ensured to make arrangements for checking of participants of Majalis and processions thorough using metal detectors. Strict vigilance should be maintained to ensure that security measures are in place by the police as well as peace committees, the SSP maintained.

The SSP also ordered all SHOs to make proper light arrangements after negotiations with concerned authorities and also to weed out bushes in the various areas in the vicinity of worship places.

The personnel of Rangers and police Commandoes along with vehicles would perform the security of imambargahs. He said that it should be ensured that processions will pass through the fixed routes and timings of processions to be observed strictly. He has also directed for effective patrolling and use of commando vehicles for the purpose.

The IGP directed for maintaining close coordination among all wings of Islamabad police and staff. The IGP asked SSP (Traffic) to ensure arrangements for avoiding any inconvenience to road users and special deployment should be made for smooth flow of traffic at alternate routes when processions will be carried out. It should be ensured that Parking lots to be far away from the processions with proper security arrangements there and metal detectors would be used at entry and exit points too.

The SSP (Operations) Najeeb-ur-Rehman Bugvi has said that walk through gates must be installed at all entry and exit points of Majalis and processions and it should be covered through large strength of policemen. He also asked all SPs, SDPOs to take steps to curb wall chalking or pasting posters which may hurt sentiments of people.—PR