Islamabad police chalk out elaborate security arrangements in Ramadan

ISLAMABAD: Around 3100 personnel including policemen, security guards and Masajid guards will perform security duties during the holy month of Ramadan and to ensure elaborate arrangements in coordination with the notables in various areas.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Bani Amin Khan reviewed special security arrangements for Ramadan in a meeting held here Monday and directed to make them fool proof. SSP Islamabad Tahir Alam Khan, SP City Muhammad Ilyas, SP Saddar Ch. Liaqat, SP Industrial Area Ishaq Warraich, SP (Rural) Faisal Bashir Memon, all SDPOs and SHOs attended this meeting and discussed their plan for an effective security plan in their respective jurisdictions.

The IGP was told that security personnel will perform special duties at 648 mosques and 37 imambargahs. As many as 3100 police officials/security guards/masjid guards have been deployed for the security of worship places in Islamabad during the holy month of Ramadan. These security arrangements shall be supervised by five SPs.

In all, 33 mosques have been placed in A Category as per security requirements, 250 in B Category and 365 in C Category while five Imambargahs in Category A and two in Category B.

The IGP said that special police strength has been called from Police Line Headquarters and provided to various police stations with the purpose to ensure effective security duties at worship places and markets. Police stations, he said, had been directed to coordinate with office bearers of traders union in their respective areas to ensure effective security along with security guards. He also ordered for providing food to policemen performing duties at police pickets during Sehri and Iftari timings in Ramadan.

The IGP was informed that Islamabad Police have also requested district administration through a letter to ask concern authorities not to make any load shedding during `Prayers and Taraveeh timings.'

The IGP directed all police officials to ensure compliance of these security arrangements during the month of Ramazan. As per security plan, only one gate of worship place would be kept open during the month of Ramazan. Mosque committees would conduct checking through metal detectors and would also deploy private security guards fort the purpose.

The IGP stressed to ensure community policing in the city and make the concept newly established community centre `successful' through effective coordination with citizens and resolving their problems. He also directed to launch special drive against the professional beggars and they should not be allowed to gather outside the worship places. Mosque committees would also not allow any stranger outsider for stay in worship places.

The police officials were also directed to carry out special checking of hotels, motels, inns and guest houses for security purpose. Meanwhile, the IGP directed to ensure that property dealers must furnish the record of tenants to the SHOs of their respective areas. Moreover, checking at the exit and entry points should be intensified without causing any embarrassment to the citizens.

Similarly, directions were made by the IGP to enhance patrolling in the various areas and the police officials have been asked to exercise strict vigilance. Close contact may be established with Citizens and they may be apprised that in case of any unclaimed luggage or any suspicious person came in their notice, they should inform the Police Control or Rescue-15.

All the SDPOs and SHO s have been directed to personally supervise the security arrangements during Ramazan and ensure the deployment of police officials or private security guards where it was necessary and in this regard no laxity shall be tolerated.

IGP Islamabad Bani Amin Khan also directed senior police officials to brief the policemen deputed for security purpose and maintain high vigilance. He also ordered for strict security at entry and exit points of the city and keep strict monitoring of those coming in the city or leaving it.