RAWALPINDI, Dec 5: Besides air surveillance by army helicopters during Zuljinnah processions, more than 6,500 police personnel will be deployed in the city for the security of more than 80 processions and worship places already declared ‘highly sensitive’ on Ashura (10th of Muharram), official sources said.

In line with intimation by Regional Police Officer (RPO) Mohammad Zubair to review the security arrangements, a high-level meeting was held here on Monday under the chair of Commissioner Zahir Saeed.

Other than the RPO, CPO Rawalpindi Azhar Hameed Khokhar, and City Traffic Officer SSP Ghulam Abbas Tarar attended the meeting.

Commissioner Zahir Saeed told Dawn that the air surveillance by army aviation’s helicopters during major processions was being used to further strengthen security measures for averting any untoward incident during Ashura.

He said the army helicopters would be with them and would start flying in the morning and remain on duty till sunset as they lack capability of flying in the dark. It had also been decided to give a “box formation” security to the main procession, he said.

After evaluating the security measures put in place during processions of 7th, 8th and 9th of Muharram, RPO Mohammad Zubair wrote a letter to the CPO and CTO pointing out the loopholes in the security and directed them to further improve the measures.

The commissioner said: “Though there are no specific terror threats, state of ‘high alert’ has been declared in the city for 10th of Muharram.”

CPO Rawalpindi Azhar Hameed Khokhar informed the meeting that 6,500 police personnel, including 15 sections of Elite Force commandos, 260 personnel from special branch, 106 bomb disposal experts and women police personnel would be
deployed for the security of Ashura processions.

He said 2,000 personnel of Punjab Constabulary would also perform security duty, while Pakistan Army troops and Rangers would remain on stand-by position.

More than 16 sniffer dogs with their trainers would be deployed along the routes of processions to detect explosives en route.

The CPO further said entry of participants of the processions would only be allowed through walk-through gate while no vehicle would be permitted entry into the processions.

Parking of vehicles would be allowed 500-metre away from the procession and nobody would be allowed to park his vehicle near Imambargahs or any other worship place.

He said a central control room had also been set up in the Police Lines to monitor the processions and coordinate with the police deployments.

Meanwhile, the city traffic police have chalked out a separate traffic plan to facilitate the Ashura processions and a control room would be set up at the traffic headquarters.

As part of the traffic plan, traffic would not be allowed entry from Iqbal Road and Committee Chowk, while DAV College Road will also be closed for all sorts of traffic. Similarly no traffic would be allowed from Novelty Cinema to Kashmiri Bazaar. There
will be a diversion on City Saddar Road.

The CTO said there will also be diversions on Shah Allah Ditta Road and traffic would be diverted on Asghar Mall Road, TB Hospital, Dhoke Dalal and Pirwadhai. Diversions would also be made at Roshan Bakery, Hamilton Road and Bansanwala
Chowk.

Roads and links road leading towards Baltistani Imambargah would be closed for traffic and all the DSPs of the circles would supervise the traffic diversions.

ISLAMABAD: The capital police on Monday tightened security in the city and put some areas under high alert and a few under red-alert to thwart any untoward incident during mourning processions and Majalis on Ashura.

Elaborate security measures are in place for Muharram processions but further improvement has been done to it with extra deployment and strict patrolling as well as searching in the vicinity of processions’ areas.

Deployment of policemen on rooftops has been ensured and processions routes have been thoroughly covered by security personnel.

SSP Mohammad Yousuf Malik is supervising the security arrangements while he has directed all SDPOs and SHOs for foolproof arrangement and checking in the respective areas.

Checking at entry and exit points of Islamabad has also been enhanced, while all wings of Islamabad police have been further directed to maintain close coordination with one another.

Policemen and security personnel have been asked not to leave their duty points even after the passing of processions and maintain close coordination with their security in charge.