April 15, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1427

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LAHORE, April 14: The Punjab government has ordered precautionary measures to avert any untoward incident in view of the Karachi bomb blast, making it clear that the DCOs, and not the district nazims, would permit public meetings at pre-designated places.

The instructions had been issued by the home department to all DCOs, provincial police officer (IGP), DIGs and DPOs, official sources said here on Friday. The officers have been asked not to allow processions or rallies under any pretext. The rallies are already banned throughout the province.

After permission by the DCO concerned, it would be the responsibility of the DPO to ensure all security arrangements for the public meeting.

Sources said the home department disallowed district nazims to permit public meetings in view of reports that in some cases such permissions were not granted without proper input from the DCO or the DPO, which resulted in unwarranted situation.

From now on, the DCO would permit the public meetings on a written request by the organisers. And after the permission, it would be the responsibility of the DPO to ensure peaceful conduct of such meeting in consultation with the district government.

While considering the application for permission of the meeting, the DCO would assess all details of the function, minutely discussing those with the organisers.

“Nothing should be left to the imagination or verbal assurance of the organisers to ensure security,” the home department maintained.

The DPO should also make traffic arrangements and a detailed contingency plan of every event while considering even the minutest of details regarding the security.

According to the home department, district policing or contingency plan needed to be regularly formulated and upgraded for effectively dealing with the situation.

The district peace committees must be activated with effective representation from people belonging to all walks of life like traders, lawyers, ulema and opinion leaders, it said.

Proper security should be provided to all religious places, including mosques, imambargahs and churches, and all religious congregations or prayers be fully protected.

Similarly, all important establishments, industry, banks, diplomatic enclaves, financial offices, restaurants, petrol pumps and public buildings should also be properly protected.

The district government and police must give due importance to reports by the provincial special branch and other agencies so as to effectively curb terrorism.

Besides, the ban on display of weapons and misuse of loudspeakers should strictly be implemented to discourage violence and spread of hate culture. Venomous wall-chalking or posters should not be allowed and people must be educated about the suspicions persons or organisations that could be involved in any act of sabotage, according to instructions.

Sources said the government, in the meantime, had directed the officials concerned to remain extra alert in cities like Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi which were stated to be the main centres of activities by religious forces so that no-one could create any disturbance under the pretext of protests against the Karachi incident.

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