The Punjab police have decided to deploy over 70,000 cops during Ramadan to ensure protection of lives and properties of citizens by implementing section-144, especially during Fajar and Taraweeh prayers, so that the people could be "protected" from Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision was taken during a video-link conference of all the regional and district police officers at a security meeting with Punjab IGP Shoaib Dastgir in the chair at the central police office (CPO) on Tuesday.

Prominent among the participants of the meeting were AIG IAB Azhar Hameed Khokhar, AIG Operations Punjab Inam Ghani, AIG Investigation Branch Punjab, Fayaz Ahmad Dev, AIG CTD Punjab Muhammad Tahir Rai and AIG Special Branch Punjab Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh.

Addressing the meeting, the IGP said that all available resources and modern technology along with deployment of police force, national volunteers and volunteers should be fully benefited for providing security to mosques and Imambargahs in all districts of the province whereas implementation of instructions issued by the government with respect to prayers in the mosques must be ensured.

He added that an additional contingent of the officials should be deployed during Fajar and Taraweeh prayers in sensitive places. Search, sweep, combing and intelligence-based operations (IBOs) should also be conducted in the vicinity of mosques and imambargahs across the province on daily basis and their reports be regularly sent to the CPO, he added.

"In the wake of global coronavirus pandemic, restrictions on congregations of every kind including Iftari and Sehri should be strictly ensured besides taking strict legal actions against the violators irrespective of their designation and social status," Shoaib told the meeting.

The IG also directed to form a special squad in order to implement the restrictions issued by the government for the lockdown. He added that those officials who found guilty of misbehaving with the citizens, corruption or failing to control crimes would not deserve any leniency.

"Special attention should be given to religious places of minorities, especially Ahmadi worship places," he emphasized, and adding that the concerned DPOs and RPOs would be responsible for the monitoring and controlling of criminal activities.

During the lockdown, the IG added, duty management should be improved on police pickets and the deployment of the officials on one point should not be more than the required officials and diligent duty should be taken from every official.

During Ramadan, the welfare of the cops would be cared, especially of those who will be deputed at the pickets and no delay in the provision of timely meal to them would be tolerated, he added.

He also directed all the senior command to seek help of religious scholars for creating awareness among the people regarding importance of social distancing and other precautionary measures so that the spread of coronavirus could be reduced during Ramadan.

He stressed upon the DPOs to personally monitor the security situation of mosques, imambargahs, Ramadan bazaars and other important buildings like makeshift markets on daily basis. He also directed to tighten monitoring and checking at intra-provincial and inter-districts check posts.

He said the process of provision of ration bags under police relief fund to the needy people should be continued so that the deserving citizens might be reduced.

Speaking on the occasion, AIG Inam Ghani told the meeting that all security arrangements for Ramadan have been completed by utilizing all available resources. "Under the plan, over 70,000 cops and volunteers will perform security and corona duties," he added.

He said the Punjab police would take full help from metal detectors, walkthrough gates and CCTV and drone cameras along with the force. "Drone cameras would be used for the security of sensitive religious worship places," Ghani said.