LAHORE: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Faisal Shahkar has asked the officers to ensure foolproof arrangements for the security of Ashura processions and Majalis, adding that police should also ensure the active role of peace committees in collaboration with the district administration and establish an atmosphere of mutual harmony with the scholars of all schools of thought and civil society.

He was presiding over a meeting held at the Police Lines here on Tuesday to review the security situation in the month of Muharram. Capital City Police Officer Ghulam Mahmood Dogar briefed the IGP on crime control while DIG Operations Afzal Kausar briefed about the security arrangements for Ashura and Muharram.

Mr Shahkar said special attention should be given to the security of places near entrance and exit points of the city. He stressed the best security arrangements for imambargahs, mosques and other places of worship.

He instructed the officers that all the routes of Ashura procession should be monitored with the CCTV cameras and Special Branch, CTD and sensitive agencies should speed up search and combing operations.

During the meeting, the IGP issued orders for a zero tolerance policy on the cases of violence and harassment against women and children and restructuring of the Gender Crime Cell.

He said women personnel and officers in the force should also be given a chance in the field.

Mr Shahkar warned the officers that ill-treatment of citizens would not be tolerated under any circumstances and there should be a clear change in their behaviour. He added that only by improving public service delivery and reaching out to the victims, the police could gain the trust and support of the citizens so there should not be any delay in registering cases.

The IGP said indiscriminate action should be taken against the land mafia who were occupying properties of overseas Pakistanis and innocent citizens and organised gangs should be brought under the law by taking concrete steps to control street crime.

He directed increased patrolling by Dolphin Squad and PRU near sensitive mosques, imambargahs, public places and markets. He instructed the field officers to give full cooperation to the citizens coming to follow their cases.

Earlier, on the arrival of the IGP laid flower wreaths on the memory of the martyrs in Police Lines and recited prayers for the martyrs of Lahore Police.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2022