Security tightened for Tablighi Ijtema

By Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: Law enforcement agencies and city police have finalised fail-safe security measures for the Tablighi Ijtema that starts on Thursday in Raiwind, sources told Daily Times on Wednesday. Sources said that Lahore traffic police had also finalised a traffic plan.

Sources said that city police had also briefed Saadat Ullah Khan, the inspector general of Police for Punjab, in this regard. Sources added that Mr Khan had directed the Punjab police departments to be vigilant and conduct thorough security checks.

Sources said that all security and emergency departments including police, special branches, intelligence bureaus, fire brigade, civil defence, bomb disposal squads and hospitals’ emergency wards would be on alert and officials had been ordered to strictly deal with threats.

Sources said that law enforcement officials had been deployed in the areas of the Ijtema and the city police had also arranged camps and wireless control rooms inside the Ijtema. Sources added that the city police had arranged check posts, police patrols and the presence of other law enforcing agencies on the route to the Itjtema.

Sources said that all city roads had been divided into four circles by the Lahore traffic police and would be supervised by senior officials including Chaudhary Ashraf and Major Faisal, both superintendents of Police. Sources said that Lahore traffic police had finalised 90 duty points while eight deputy superintendents, 34 inspectors, 56 sub-inspectors, 91 assistant sub-inspectors, 117 head constables and 450 constables were deputed for the Ijtema.

Sources said that a temporary helipad and a special route had been prepared for important and influential people. Sources added that participants on their way to Raiwind from Grand Trunk Road would be diverted to the Motorway at the Kala Shah Kaku Interchange with the collaboration of the Motorway Police. Traffic from Faisalabad and Sargodha would access the Motorway at the Sheikhupura Interchange.

Sources said that vehicles arriving from Multan Road would reach the Ijtema through the Manga Bypass and vehicles from Kasur would reach the Ijtema through Raiwind Road. Sources added that Sunder Road would be kept clear for emergencies. The road from Raiwind to Lahore, Raiwind to Sunder, Raiwind to Kot Radha Kishan and Raiwind to Manga would be made one-way roads, said sources.

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