LAHORE - Punjab Police Inspector General Arif Nawaz Khan on Friday ordered the police to ensure best security arrangements on the eve of Eid Miladun Nabi with massive deployment of force across the province.

The provincial police officer also directed the regional and district police officers to intensify security sweep and combing operations in big cities to hunt down suspected elements ahead of the religious event. The IGP ordered the district police officers to fully implement the security plan to cover all important religious gatherings and processions.

The police chief issued these directions while addressing regional and district police officers through video-link conference at the central police office on Friday. Additional-IG Muhammad Tahir, Faisal Shahkar, Rai Muhammad Tahir, DIG Amir Zulfiqar Khan, and Farooq Mazhar were present on this occasion while the RPOs and DPOs attended the conference via video-link.

The IGP also ordered the field police officers to provide foolproof security to all religious gatherings and processions of to be taken out with regard to Eid Milad-un-Nabi on December 1 (Friday). He said the police should leave no stone unturned to ensure best security arrangements for the processions and gatherings.

The IGP said that the DPOs should personally review the security plan for A-category and sensitive processions according to the standard operating procedure. The police will also work closely with other law enforcement agencies and district administration to ensure peace and harmony. 

On this occasion, the IGP was informed that more than 75,000 police will perform security duties to guard religious gatherings and processions on the eve of Eid Milad. The police chief said that professional shooters and snipers should be deployed on top of the high-rise structure on the procession routes. Also, police commandos in plainclothes should be deployed among the public to ensure strict security monitoring.

The RPOs and DPOs were directed to ensure combing and intelligence based operations on a regular basis in big cities especially around the worship places and sensitive localities.

He also directed the DPOs to personally supervise search operations in their respective districts.

The officers also reviewed the overall law and order and crime situation in all districts of the province. The police chief ordered the officers to arrest most wanted criminals including those involved in murder, robbery and abduction for ransom cases.

Meanwhile, special prayers were offered for martyred Additional Inspector General of Police Muhammad Ashraf Noor, who died in a suicide bomb attack on Friday in Peshawar.