Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Arif Nawaz Khan has stressed the need for initiating intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the province with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) ahead of Christmas celebrations. The IGP expressed these views while reviewing and finalising security arrangements for the upcoming celebration of Christian community on December 25.
Addressing a seminar held at the Central Police Office (CPO) here on Monday, the IGP directed the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab police to immediately initiate IBOs in the province, especially in and around worship places of the Christian community besides other sensitive places.
Additional IG Special Branch Faisal Shahkar, CCPO Lahore Amin Wains, Additional IG CTD Rai Tahir, DIG Operations Punjab Amir Zulfiqar Khan, Additional IG Operations Muhammad Kashif, DIG Operations Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf and other senior police officers attended the seminar.
"Before the celebration of Christmas, all the District Police Officers (DPOs) would complete security audit of its force deployed for the purpose of security of this community. They would also ensure complete installation of CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates on entry and exit points of the worship places," the IGP said.
"The police department will deploy snipers on rooftops of important buildings," IGP Arif said, adding that security personnel in plain clothes will also be deployed in all worship places of the Christian community on the eve of Christmas. All participants of the meeting also deliberated in detail matters pertaining to security arrangements for churches in the province. The IGP said the concerned RPOs and DPOs should "personally devise" security plan for Churches of "A-category" in their respective regions by maintaining security situation on high-alert.
IGP Arif said senior police officers should brief field officers about the importance and sensitivity of their jobs and what damages they could sustain in case of deviation. Arif further said the law enforcers should ensure effective monitoring of sensitive public places, including parks, hotels, educational institutes and worship places, by installing additional CCTV cameras. He asserted to increase working timings of Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit (PRU), adding that security arrangements for inter-provincial check posts should be tightened.