LAHORE   -   Lahore Commissioner Capt (retd) Usman Younis on Friday inspected the route of main procession of Youm-e-Shahadat Hazrat Ali (RA) and reviewed the security and municipal arrangements. Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Umar Sher Chattha, DIG Operations Dr Abid Khan accompanied him.

The authorities were briefed on the arrangements for the main procession which will be taken out from Mubarak Heveli and culminate at Karbala Gamay Shah after passing through its traditional route.

During the briefing it was informed that along with the cameras of Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA), additional cameras would also be installed and more than 4,000 police officers and personnel would perform duties for the security of main procession. It was further briefed that the route of the main procession would be exempted from load shedding. Additional generators would also be available. The commissioner directed all allied departments to ensure last moment inspection of the route for the sake of foolproof security. Meanwhile, DIG Operation Wing Lahore Dr Abid Khan visited the main route of the Youm-e-Ali (RA) procession. SP City and other security officials also accompanied the DIG. He met the administration of the main procession and discussed security arrangements. Representatives of the Shia community expressed satisfaction on the planned security arrangements. According to the security plan, 5,000 officials of the Lahore Police would perform security duty. Ten SPs, 25 SDPOs, 80 SHOs, 374 upper subordinates would be part of the security team. As many as 258 streets on the main route of 5km distance would remain closed with barbed wires.

Snipers would be deployed on the rooftops on the route. Mobile-phone service would partially be suspended for a specific time period.

Parking arrangements have been made for vehicles. The DIG said that patrolling of Elite Force, Dolphin Squad and PRU will also be ensured in the surroundings of the procession.