Rawalpindi-City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Shehzad Nadim Bukhari has announced a comprehensive security plan to shield the main and other processions to be taken out in connection with Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), informed a police spokesman on Thursday.
According to the security plan, as many as 3,600 well-equipped cops and officers will be deployed for the security of the processions of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) to be observed tomorrow (Saturday), he said.
The police will also be assisted by Punjab Rangers, Elite Force commandos, Dolphin Force, ladies police, personnel of Special Branch and other intelligence agencies in protecting the processions, he added.
“The troops of Pakistan Army will also be put on high alert,” he said. Likewise, CPO also held meetings with Ulemas, religious scholars of different schools of thought and the Zakrins to maintain law and order and to promote harmony on the eve of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the spokesman said.
A comprehensive traffic plan has also been finalized according to which 236 officers and traffic wardens will perform duty to regulate the traffic along with the main route of procession and in other surrounding areas, he informed.
“The Rawalpindi police have buckled up to guard the main and other processions of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and all the resources are being utilised in this regard,” he said.
In a statement, CPO Syed Shehzad Nadim Bukhari said that the security branch of police would install walk-through gates on all the entry points of main procession and a mechanism of body search would also be adopted by the cops in order to avoid any untoward incident.
“The mourners would only be allowed to participate in procession after a thorough body search with help of metal detectors,” he said adding that sharp shooters would also be deployed on high rise buildings to provide security to the procession. All the roads and streets leading to the main route of procession would also be sealed according to security plan, said the top cop of Rawalpindi police.
Meanwhile, City Traffic Police (CTP), under the command of Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Navid Irshad, has also finalized a traffic plan to ease the traffic flow and to facilitate the road users on eve of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). According to traffic plan, a total of 236 wardens and officers are to be deployed along with main route of procession, said CTP spokesman SI Kashif Saroosh. He added that a total of 12 processions are to be taken out in the city in connection with Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).
He said that CTP will place diversions on 12 points to divert traffic on alternative routes. He said that the police would close Liqauat Road from DAV College Road to Fawara Chowk for all kind of traffic. Diversions would also be placed at Kashmiri Bazar Road (from Mashriq Hotel to Fawara Chowk); Kashmiri Bazaar Road (from Novelty Cinema to Fawara Chowk); Ganjmandi Road (from Police Station Ganjmandi Turn to Fawara Chowk); Bagh Sardaran Road (from Chungi Number 4 to Bansanwala Chowk); Banni Chowk (from Circular Road, Waris Khan Road to Kohati Bazaar); Iqbal Road (from Committee Chowk to Fawara Chowk); Gordon College Road (from Akbar International Road to New Mohala Road); 5th Road (from Rehmanabad Turn to College Chowk Saidpur Road); 4th Road (from Punjab Bank Roundabout to Kali Tanki Chowk) and Asghar Mall Road (from Asghar Mall Turn to Degree College Square), he said. The traffic coming on these roads would be diverted on alternative routes, he said.
CTO Rawalpindi Navid Irshad has directed all the DSPs and incharges to impart duty with dedication and commitment and also coordinate with the district police to ease the traffic flow and to maintain law and order on the eve of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).