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Thick security blanket over twin cities for peaceful Eid

* Police to be deployed in large numbers in and around mosques, imambargahs, Eid congregations
* Walkthrough gates in place for worshippers
* Administrations of worship places briefed on how to counter terrorism

By Aamir Yasin

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Police have placed the capital and the adjacent garrison city under a thick security blanket to counter terrorism during Eid days.

Sources said on Friday that in Islamabad, over 300 policemen equipped with latest weapons and explosive and metal detectors would be deployed inside and outside Faisal Mosque and the city’s two major graveyards for Eidul Azha. They said the Anti-Terrorist Squad would help police protect public life and property.

The sources said Islamabad police’s Special Branch would install walkthrough gates at entrance to all sensitive mosques, imambargahs and places of Eid congregations in the city.

They said a large number of police personnel would be deployed in and around major mosques and imambargahs for the worshipers’ protection. They said the capital police formed 15 mobile teams for patrolling the city during Eid prayer.

The sources said the leaves of the police and Elite Force’s personnel deployed in sensitive areas had already been canceled to maintain law and order. They said all the filed officers had been directed to monitor the movement of suspected people and vehicles in their areas.

They said a written security plan had been dispatched to the capital’s all police stations, adding the station house officers (SHOs) and other field officers had strictly been directed to ensure its implementation.

They said the administrations of mosques, imambargahs and volunteer organisations had also been given a detailed briefing on security arrangements during Eid prayer, and ways and means to thwart terrorist attacks.

They said the city police along with the Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) would lay multiple cordons around the Red Zone and important installations. They said the FC and Rangers troops had been deployed on Margallah Hills. Besides, personnel of the paramilitary troops were also put on high alert around the Red Zone and sensitive installations.

The sources also revealed deployment of snipers on the rooftops of sensitive installations and buildings adjacent to them. They said besides deployment of explosive experts, sniffer dogs were also given to policemen deployed at checkpoints in and around the Red Zone.

As for Rawalpindi, sources said over 4,000 police personnel including 200 women would guard major Eid congregations in the city. They said Anti-Terrorist Squad, peace committees, mohallah committees, mosque committees and volunteer organisations would assist police in maintaining law and order.

They said the personnel of law-enforcement agencies including Elite Force equipped with machineguns would patrol the Red Zone. They said checkpoints manned by military and police personnel had also been set up in the city.

The sources said on the directives of City Police Officer (CPO) Rao Iqbal Khan, a special team had been formed to ensure the security of 2,000 mosques, 223 eidgahs and 48 imambargahs. The senior superintendent of police (operations) led the team, they said.

They said three SPs, 10 DSPs, 23 inspectors, 4,886 constables, 102 commandoes, 12 sections of Elite Force had been deployed in the city, while the police’s reserve force had been put on high alert to handle emergencies.

They said police established 15 checkpoints in and around the city and the personnel manning them had been strictly directed to keep a tight eye on suspects.

The sources said a good number of policemen and plainclothesmen had been assigned with ensuring law and order in and around cattle markets. They said special police squads would ensure that there were no beggars outside eidgahs.

They also said entry of heavy vehicles to cantonment areas had been banned, while the same ban would be in effect in the limits of the city during Eid prayers.

The sources said Civil Defence, Bomb Disposal Squad, Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 would help police counter terrorism during Eid days.

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