LAHORE – City police heaved a sigh of relief as the huge public meeting of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) ended peacefully at the historic Minar-i-Pakistan ground on Sunday night.
Citing security reasons, the authorities suspended mobile phone service in the entire locality on Sunday morning. The police also set up several special pickets on the roads leading towards the venue to keep a check on the movement of the miscreants.
Apart from plainclothesmen, more than 2000 policemen were also deployed around the large gathering to maintain peace. No less than 5000 volunteers of the religio-political party were also deployed on security duties to check the participants. The police allowed entry to each and every participant after proper physical checking through metal detectors at the entry points. The police also placed walkthrough gates at the entry points to ensue scanning the participants and activists.
Police sources said a good number of personnel from different intelligence agencies were also on guard to keep a vigilant eye on the activities of the troubles makers. The police also continued monitoring of the huge public meeting by using CCTV cameras and other techniques from different positions.
DIG (Operations) Muhammad Tahir Rai told reporters that more than 2000 policemen were on guard to ensure foolproof security of the public meeting of JUI at the Minar-i-Pakistan. The police were strictly directed to beef up security and intensify round-the-clock armed patrolling in the entire locality to maintain law and order.
Heavy police contingents were also on-guard around important shopping centers, commercial markets, and public places in the locality to avert any untoward incident.