Lahore on high alert
* Security arrangements made for US Consulate, British Council, Iranian Consulate, other buildings and installations * Lahore’s entry, exit points sealed, police checking people entering city * Law enforcement personnel start arresting religious activists after 12:00am on Friday
By Shahnawaz Khan
LAHORE: Law enforcement personnel have declared Lahore on high alert after Thursday’s suicide bomb attack in Karachi and the opposition’s strike call after Friday prayers against the publishing of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Danish newspapers.
Special arrangements have been made for security within and surrounding the US Consulate, British Council, Iranian Consulate and other buildings and installations in coordination with security officials already present at the buildings.
The city’s entry and exit points including railway stations have been sealed and officials concerned are checking people entering Lahore in groups. Lahore’s law enforcement personnel will start arresting religious activists (who may create trouble in Lahore) after 12:00am on Friday.
Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja said on Thursday that nobody had been arrested so far in connection with the strike call. “Nobody will be allowed to violate the law and disturb the peace. Security forces will punish all violators,” he added.
Separately, Lahore Police has set up its security control room in the Capital Police Chief’s (CPC) office. The CPC also called a meeting on Thursday to look through the police plan for security in the city on Friday.
Nayab Haider, Lahore Police spokesman, told Daily Times that authorities had deployed more than 9,000 policemen across the city to keep a check on violence. Similarly, more than 3,000 Rangers personnel had also been deployed to support the police, he added.
Authorities had doubled security at all foreign high commissions, consulates and installations in Lahore, he said, adding that senior police officials were in contact with foreign representatives in this regard.
He said authorities had called in more than 200 special Punjab Constabulary commandos trained in riot management to keep the strike in control.
The spokesman said authorities in Lahore had arranged for rubber bullets, batons, safety shields and teargas canisters along with gasmasks from the Multan and Faisalabad divisions and Punjab Constabulary. He said all policemen had been ordered to punish people indulging in violence, especially on The Mall and other important locations.
Similarly, many plainclothesmen and policemen with video cameras would also be deployed to monitor law and order, he added.
Special instructions have also been issued to all shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and recreational areas to arrange for special security arrangements besides police presence. The administrations of the above-mentioned buildings have started searching people and cars being parked on the premises.
Special lists of religious as well as political activists have been given to officials concerned. The Bomb Disposal Squad, Civil Defence, Rescue 1122 and Fire Brigade officials’ leave has been cancelled.
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