At least 118308 police officials would be deployed during Moharram to maintain peace

Lahore: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman presided over the Provincial Law and Order Conference held at the Central Police Office (CPO) today to finalize a comprehensive security plan for the forthcoming holy month of Moharram-ul-Haram to maintain peace and ensure foolproof security for the Majalis, processions, and around Imambargahs.

Addl: IG Punjab, Malik Khuda Bakhsh Awan, Addl: IG Traffic, Qalb-e-Abbas, Addl: IG CTD, Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, Addl: IG Investigation, Punjab, Naseem-ul-Zaman Siddiqui, Addl: IG Welfare and Finance Sermad Saeed, Commandant Punjab Constabulary, Ahmed Raza Tahir, DIG Operations, Lahore, Rai Muhammad Tahir, RPO Gujranwala, Muhammad Amin Wains, RPO Rawalpindi, Capt: (R) Muhammad Zubair, RPO Faisalabad, Aftab Ahmed Cheema, RPO Sargodha, Amjad Javaid Saleemi, RPO Multan, Aamir Zulfiqar Khan, RPO Sahiwal, Muhammad Farooq Mazhar, RPO Bahawalpur, Rao Sardar Ali, RPO D.G. Khan, Nawaz Warraich and all DPOs were attended the conference.

It was decided in the conference that at least 118308 police officers/officials including 78930 policemen, 8780 Elite police personnel, 17808 Police Qaumi Razakars (PQRs), 12790 officials from the special police force would be deployed across the Punjab province during Moharram to maintain peace and law and order.

The police force will provide security to 37249 Majalis, and 9136 processions to be arranged all over the province while 69 units of Pak Army and 35 units of Pak Rangers would remain on-call to cope with the situation in case of any emergency.

The conference was also informed that recommendations have already been sent to the Punjab government to impose belonging to various school of thoughts, in the province while gagging of 439 fire-brand speakers has been also suggested throughout the Punjab.

According to the decision of the Conference, wall-chalking, distribution of hatred and provocative literature has also been banned across the Punjab while Peace Committees will remain in close liaison with the intelligence and police committees and religious leaders at district level.

It was further decided that video and still photo coverage in case of any untoward incident would also be ensured for the prosecution purposes. The police are also directed to step up vigilance and monitoring of all the activists who are included in the 4th Schedule.

The meeting also decided that a massive crackdown should be launched all over the province against the elements using fake mobile phone SIMs, un-registered weapons and motorcycles.

The IGP ordered the police to remain in touch with intelligence operatives, government institutions, and the management of cellular phone companies so that the use of fake mobile phone SIMs could be stopped to control crimes.

During the conference, RPO Gujranwala Amin Wains suggested that an independent Intelligence Agency should be established within the police department to improve its working. The IGP agreed to the proposal and directed the Additional-IG Investigations Punjab Nassem-ul-Zaman to prepare the feasibility in this regard.

The meeting also decided strict monitoring and stern action against the elements involved in funding the banned outfits.

Meanwhile, IGP Punjab distributed commendatory certificates and cash prizes worth Rs one million among 36 officers/officials of Faisalabad police for their outstanding performance. CPO Faisalabad Bilal Siddique Kamyana was awarded Rs 250,000, SP Rai Zameer-ul-Haq Rs 200,000 and SP Iqbal Nasir was given Rs 50,000 besides others.