Raiwind congregation from today: 'Three-tier security finalised for first phase'

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operation) Ashfaq Khan has said that a three-tier security plan has been put in place for the first phase of Raiwind annual congregation starting from Friday (today). "More than 2,000 police officers including three SPs, 12 DSPs, 33 Inspectors and 306 upper-subordinates will perform security duty around the Raiwind Tableeghi Ijtima which will be observed from November 1 to 3," the DIG said while talking to reporters on Thursday.

He added that the most important assignment of the Lahore police is to provide maximum security to the Raiwind congregation for which all-out efforts are being made to ensure foolproof security for the participants of this event in coordination with different security agencies and the district government. The senior police officer said the participants will only be allowed to enter "Pandaals" after complete physical checking through three-tier security.

He said the cops along with the volunteers of the management of Tableeghi Ijtima will ensure complete body search of the people through metal detectors, electric barriers and walkthrough gates. "Police officials in plain dresses have been deputed at the congregation site to keep an eye on suspicious persons and their movements," Ashfaq said, adding that search operations are also being carried out on regular basis to ensure safety of the participants besides thwarting nefarious designs of anti-social elements.

Around the congregational site, the police officials are also conducting verifications of citizens and passengers at houses, hotels, guest houses, bus stops and railway stations through geo-fencing, biometric verification and the Hotel Eye application. The checking of the citizens and vehicles is also under process at the entry and exit points of the city, added the DIG. He said that separate parking arrangements have also been made for the facilitation of the participants of the congregation, adding that "Police Help Desks" have also been setup at different points for the guidance.