Work in progress even in the night to erect walls to protect bureaucrats' enclave at GOR-I Staff photo.

LAHORE - Gazetted Officers Residences (GOR-I) has been declared a high security zone after threats of terrorist acts as all the 14 roads, except two, leading to the exclusive area have been blocked 'till further orders. But seemingly, all these entry and exit points have been blocked permanently by erecting concrete walls. The new security measures would ultimately minimise the general publics entry into this special area. The GOR-I, where the provinces top political, bureaucratic and judicial elite reside, is considered as a highly sensitive and exclusive area always protected from the common man. For the senior officers, it is an ideal location for being close to the Secretariat and Chief Minister Secretariat besides situated right in the heart of the City adjacent to three main arteries - The Mall, Jail Road and Lahore Canal. A spate of bomb blasts in the provincial capital targeting the police establishments and more threats from the terrorists have led the senior bureaucrats to adopt extra precautionary measures. Besides, the proximity of Chief Minister House also necessitated extraordinary security in the area. In view of these factors, the City police called an emergency meeting and after detailed discussion declared GOR-I as a high security zone. The meeting also approved a comprehensive protection plan for the residents of the GOR-I. According to the security plan devised for the GOR and protection of those in the government, especially in senior positions, 70 police officials equipped with modern weapons and gadgets from the Police Lines have been deployed in and around GOR-I with special instructions to remain extra vigilant. Fearing any Manawan Police Training School like terrorists attack, the police high ups thought it better to close down all the roads leading to the locality by erecting walls instead of placing barriers and deputing a large number of policemen, as the cops were already at the terrorists hit list. Only two roads leading from the Jail Road and The Mall are allowed to be used as entry and exit points. These points will be used by the motorists and visitors, but not without going through the security checks. The GOR-I has been declared 'no-go area for the general people as the policemen deputed at the entry/exit point are strictly directed to allow only the residents of the said locality. The bureaucrats have long been demanding the closure of GOR-I for the ordinary people, but they were not successful due to public pressure and resistance. It has also been learnt reliably that the police were considering a proposal of issuing security passes to the residents of the GOR-I to avoid inconvenience to them. In this regard, the policemen are compiling a data of all the officials and private vehicles of the residents of GOR-I, which would be handed over to the policemen deployed at the entry/exit points. Superintendent Police (SP) Civil Lines Sohail Akhtar Sukhera confirmed that except the two points all other roads leading to GOR had been closed in view of prevailing security threats. He said special arrangements are being made for the identification of the local residents for entering the locality. Meanwhile, a large number of employees of government departments were witnessed busy at massive construction work inside the GOR-I. Several greenbelts, and footpaths were being removed while work was also in full wing outside the residences of senior government officials. On the other hand, according to a government employee, the greenbelts and footpaths inside the GOR-I are being removed for the disposal of rainy water by levelling the pathways. Replying to a question, he said several senior government officers were supervising the construction work being carried out under the directives of the Punjab government. He further said boundary walls of several government residences were also being raised along with installing barbed wires on such walls around the residences to block entry of suspects. Meanwhile, police check posts have also been constructed on several important points inside the GOR-I on permanent basis. The GOR residents are asked to keep an eye on intruders and inform the patrolling police or the cops stationed at the check posts immediately.