The Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Chaudhry Shafiq Ahmed said on Saturday that a fool proof security plan is being drafted to ensure safety for processions on Monday and Tuesday. He said three layers of security should be provided to all significant processions. Ahmed was presiding over a meeting of operations and investigation wing.
Operations DIG Rana Abdul Jabbar said 10,000 police officers would be on security duty on the 12th of Rabi ul Awal to provide security to almost 150 processions.
Ahmed directed the Divisional SPs to identify crime pockets in their divisions and immediately double patrolling in these areas. He said the SPs should personally patrol these areas and regularly inspect the patrolling by Muhafiz and Tiger Squads. He said that in order to prevent targeted killings, the SPs should identify potential targets and take steps to ensure their safety.
Ahmed said that a strict crack down should be started against gambling dens, narcotics sellers and proclaimed offenders. The SHO, SP and the SDPO will be held personally responsible for any complaints in these regards. Ahmed took notice of the incident in Gowalmandi a few days ago where some people had set a man on fire. He directed the Lahore SP to submit a report on steps taken by the police in this case within 72 hours.
The meeting was attended by Investigation DIG Zulfiqar Hameed, Operations DIG Rana Abdul Jabbar, Administration SSP Rana Shahzad Akbar, CTO Sohail Chaudhry, SSP Discipline and Inspection Sohail Sukhera, Security SP Ali Salman and all SPs of the Investigation and Operations wings.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.