LAHORE: Punjab police high-ups in a meeting on Saturday issued guidelines for elaborated security arrangements across the province during Muharram.

These guidelines will also be presented to the cabinet sub-committee on law and order which is visiting all divisions of the police across the province to review the security arrangments for Muharram.

Headed by Punjab police Inspector General Arif Nawaz khan, the meeting was attended by eight additional IGs and 10 deputy inspector generals (DIGs) of the police, besides many other police officers.

He also held a video conference with the Lahore capital city police officer, all regional police officers (RPOs) and district police officers (DPOs).

Some other issues pertaining to the Punjab IG’s initiatives and status of implementation of the schemes he launched by the field officers also came under discussion, according to a police handout.

During the meeting, the Lahore CCPO and RPOs briefed the IG regarding security arrangements and force deployment in their respective areas for Muharram.

The IG ordered establishment of control rooms at tehsil level for the security of sensitive Imambargahs, processions and majalis that would be linked to central control room at each district headquarters.

Mr Arif told the field officers to ensure close coordination and information sharing with other law enforcement agencies for security arrangements during Muharram.

He asked them to conduct flag marches in all districts to promote sense of security among the citizens and a thorough screening and scanning of all the routes of Muharram processions and majalis venues.

He ordered strict implementation of the Loudspeaker Act and action against those involved in distribution of hate material and sectarian wall-chalking.

Instructions were also issued to install walk-through gates, metal detectors, and CCTV cameras on the routes of processions, besides deputing snipers on the rooftops with commandos in civvies for monitoring and thwarting any threat.

During the meeting, the complaints regarding suspects death in police custody also came under discussion.

“In case of any suspect death, torture in police custody, or escape the concerned SHO, circle officer and DPO will be responsible and a strict action will be taken against those involved”, the IG warned.

Stressing the need for improving working and environment of police station, he said: “I am giving one month deadline to all the RPOs and DPOs to bring improvement at the police stations of the province, particularly of Lahore”.

He ordered the Lahore CCPO and other senior officers to visit at least one police station on weekly basis and submit report to the Addl IG (Operations) Inam Ghani in this regard.

He warned that in the second phase of his surprise visits starting from Oct 1 if any lapses were found, the senior officers would also be held responsible.

Additional IGs, including Azhar Hameed Khokhar, Kunwar Shahrukh, Rao Sardar, Abu Bakar Khuda Bakhsh and Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh were present.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2019