RAWALPINDI, July 19: The Rawalpindi police have sought 400 additional policemen to be deployed around mosques and sensitive places to ensure security during the holy month of Ramazan.

An official of the city police said they had requested Inspector General of Police Haji Habibur Rehman for the additional personnel to assist the existing force in performing security duties during the holy month.

He said a comprehensive security plan had been chalked out though there had been no specific terror threat.

In addition to the regular police, the extra personnel will be deployed in 22 mosques located in the garrison areas while policewomen will perform duties in 21 mosques at Taraveeh time. More than 2,300 mosques are located in the district.

The police official said there had been a dire need for additional personnel to assist the existing force as the police had already been short of strength because they had to perform VVIP and route duties as well.

A comprehensive security plan has been issued by City Police Officer Azhar Hameed Khokhar, who will supervise the overall security duties during Ramazan.

A ban on the use of loudspeakers would also be enforced while wall-chalking along roadsides would be checked strictly.

In the wake of complaints that there had been wall-chalking related to religious hatred, a police party was sent to Trait near Murree to remove it and trace those behind it.

City Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, when contacted, said a special traffic plan had been chalked out to maintain smooth flow of traffic during Ramazan, adding no extra wardens were required in this regard.

He said traffic wardens would be deployed around mosques during Taraveeh times; however, neither any road would be closed nor there would be diversion.

TAXILA: Police in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies have chalked out a comprehensive security plan to avoid any untoward activity in Taxila and Wah Cantonment during Ramazan.This was stated by subdivisional police officer Raja Taifour Akhter while briefing newsmen here on Thursday. He said the police had further intensified security arrangements of religious places, especially mosques and imambargahs, to maintain law and order and avert any untoward incident.

Mr Raja said police would ensure security of 220 mosques and 12 imambargahs in Taxila and Wah Cantt. He said a code of conduct was also issued so that no group tried to hurt the feelings of the other through the use of loudspeakers. He said keeping in view the current law and order situation in the country and growing terrorist acts, it was decided to take more steps to frustrate the evil designs of saboteurs and anti-social elements. He said the managements of religious places had also been directed to take precautionary measures.