RAWALPINDI: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are all set to celebrate Eid Miladun Nabi (peace be upon him) as the local administration and police have finalised arrangements for the event on Tuesday.

In Rawalpindi, the residents and Milad committees of different mohallahs and localities have decorated the route of the main procession with buntings and banners. Government and private buildings, shopping malls, houses, roads and streets have also been decorated with lights.

Catering services were getting orders from people for preparation of sweet dishes. Some were sponsored exclusively by philanthropists and religious groups. Cooks are hired to prepare rice and Kheer (dessert) on Eid Miladun Nabi. However, some people prepare food themselves for distribution and this trend is growing. The food is distributed among participants of Milad processions, neighbours and the destitute.

The main procession of Eid Miladun Nabi will be taken out from the Markazi Jamia Masjid Raja Bazaar at 10am under the aegis of Central Committee for Jashan-i-Eid Miladun Nabi, which will be later joined by other rallies from different areas.

The procession, after passing through its traditional route from Jamia Masjid Road, Kohati Bazaar, Benazir Bhutto Road, Iqbal Road, Fawara Chowk, Raja Bazaar and Dingi Kohi will culminate at Markazi Jamia Mosque at night.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema and City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani inspected the route of the procession. The DC said the district administration and police had finalised arrangements to provide foolproof security to the processions.

He directed the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company to clean the route by midnight and hand it over to the Special Branch of police for a security check. He also directed the town administrations to remove hurdles on the route of the Milad procession.

The traffic and city police were directed not to allow heavy traffic on the route of the procession to avoid any untoward situation. He stressed the need for cooperation among different departments for the security and other arrangements. The DC asked the three government hospitals to remain on red alert and depute doctors and paramedical staff to deal with any emergency.

He said the hospitals should allocate extra beds in emergency departments.

A main control room has been establish at Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation offices while four relief camps would be established at Committee Chowk, Fawara Chowk, Shah Nazar bridge and Jamia Masjid Road. These are being manned by officials of utility services, town administration, health department and Special Branch.

The CPO said police had also completed the inspection of all routes of processions. Scores of well-equipped policemen and officers would be deputed to guard the participants. He said that police had made comprehensive security arrangements for protection of lives and property of the citizens.

Islamabad

Capital police have also chalked out a security plan for the main procession of Rabiul Awal 12 and deployed over 2,000 officials, said the police. Strict patrolling would be ensured during processions and other religious gatherings in the city.

According to the security plan, more than 2000 police personnel would perform patrolling and security duties.

The main procession in the city would be cordoned off through deployment. The procession would start from G-7 Jamia Masjid Al Raza and culminate near the shrine of Hazrat Sakhi Mahmud at Aabpara market after passing through its designated route.

The monitoring of processions would be ensured through drone cameras and CCTV cameras. Zonal DPOs, SDPOs, SHOs and other police officials would visit the route of the procession and ensure effective coordination among the security personnel.

Teams of CTD and police commandos would also perform security duties while special teams from other law enforcement departments would assist them.

Close liaison would be maintained with organisers of the procession and other gatherings. Walk-through gates would be installed at all the entry points of the procession and metal detectors would be used for checking of the participants.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2024