ISLAMABAD: Over 7,000 police personnel and officers have been deployed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for security duty at worship and public places on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.

Pakistan Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and police commandos are also assisting the capital police in security duties.

As per the security plan, patrolling in the capital was also increased, especially around public and worship places for security and counter robberies and snatching incidents, police said.

Mobile officers and police guards posted at mosques and imambargahs, public/picnic places will take notice of beggars hovering around several areas and take legal action against them.

Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and police commandos assisting Islamabad police

Police officials along with armed security guards will provide security cover to 1,037 mosques and 28 imambargahs during Eid prayer congregations, the police said, adding the worship places were divided into three categories.

Category A has 40 mosques and 20 imambargahs, B has 365 mosques and six imambargahs while the remaining ones are in category C, keeping their sensitivity.

Mobile patrols and squads would also remain present at prominent points during Eid congregations.

The security plan was finalised in a meeting presided over by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malik Jameel Zafar and attended by other officials. The SSP has devised the special security plan and all police officials have been directed to remain on high alert and fully prepared to avert any untoward situation during Eid.

They will be provided with additional force on their request for effective patrolling and security during Eid congregations in various sectors.

According to the plan, beat systems have been introduced for security at main shopping centres, markets and additional deployment of policemen has been ensured for chaand raat, they said, adding that contingents of mobile reserve police and prisoner van movement would be part of security measures at important shopping centres including Jinnah Super market, F-10 and Aabpara market.

Police officials have been assigned duties at bus stands, graveyards and railway stations while special deployment will also be made at Faisal Mosque, the police said, adding that all SHOs have been directed to conduct security meetings with managers of bus stands as bus stands were identified for security duties.

Special police pickets have also been erected in the vicinity of bus stands and police would check monitors passengers and other suspects there.

Vehicles of police stations and falcons would patrol in their respective areas while additional vehicles were also provided to each police station for success of the patrolling plan.

Police teams have been constituted for patrolling in urban sectors and rural area and will be assisted by contingents of Pakistan Rangers, FC and police commandos will assist police in these security duties.

Keeping in view the rush of visitors at public places, security measures have also been made at Shakarparian, Daman-i-Koh, Jasmine Garden, Monal, Lake View Park, Chattar Park and Centaurus.

Duty rosters have been prepared by the in-charges of police stations and policemen would patrol in various sectors during day and night timings to check house burglaries and ensure protection to properties during Eid holidays.

SSP Zafar directed officials to ensure safety of properties and stop frequent incidents of theft during holidays. As a part of security measures, police pickets would be erected at all important entry and exit points for checking of vehicles.

Rawalpindi

More than 3,700 police personnel have been deployed around 784 mosques, imambargahs and open locations in the garrison city where Eidul Fitr prayers will be offered.

According to the police, out of the 784 places, Eid prayers will be offered at 641 mosques, 76 imambargahs and 77 open places in the garrison city. Of the 641 mosques, 45 have been categorised as ‘A’ (most sensitive), 96 as ‘B’ (sensitive) and 500 as ‘C’ (normal).

Likewise, of the 76 imambargahs, 48 have been categorised as ‘A’, 12 as ‘B’ and 16 placed in category ‘C’. And out of the 77 open places, five are in category ‘A’, 27 in category ‘B’ and 45 in category ‘C’.

A police spokesman said a foolproof security plan had been chalked out with the deployment of over 3,700 personnel on the eve of Chand Raat and Eidul Fitr.

In addition, more than 1,100 traffic police officers and wardens will be on duty. Besides the district police, Elite Force, Dolphin Force and Guards Corps will be deployed in the garrison city.

On the other hand, 763 police personnel will be deployed on different roads and intersections to prevent one wheeling on Chand Raat and Eid. Around 40 special pickets have been erected to prevent one wheeling besides deployment of seven special squads to assist the district police to curb the menace of one wheeling.

Snap checking and monitoring will be done across the city, City Police Officer Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani said. Police station mobiles and motorcycles will patrol in the city under the special security plan, he said.

Special teams have been formed to prevent one -wheeling, rioting and aerial firing. Legal action will be taken against any illegal activity, the CPO said.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2023