All parks remain closed

LAHORE

All the public parks of the provincial metropolis remained closed on Monday as the authorities have started reconsidering security measures of the public parks in the aftermath of Sunday’s bombing in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park.

It is pertinent to mention here that all the public parks in the provincial capital have very poor security measures and before this incident none of the higher authorities had even thought of improving the security of public parks.

The main job of the internal security of different public parks was to check entry without ticket or track down couples for committing ‘immoral’ activities in the parks. A security guards in the Bagh-e-Jinnah said no electronic gadgets were provided to the park’s security and their prime job is to keep an eye on the visitors, especially couples, and stop them from committing any immoral act. Another big issue regarding the security of public parks is multiple entries i.e. Model Town Park has four or five entries, Racecourse Park has three to four entries, Bagh-e-Jinnah has four to five entries etc. It is very difficult to secure every entrance, said Bashir, a security guard of the Racecourse Park.  He said CCTV cameras were installed at two main entrances of this park but there are no metal detectors or walk-throughs.

On the other hand, Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department held an emergency meeting on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Director General Wildlife and Parks Punjab Khalid Ayaz Khan who said walk-throughs will be installed at entry and exit points of the Safari Zoo Park and Lahore Zoo. He said every visitor to the Safari Zoo Park and Lahore Zoo will be checked through walk-throughs and scanners for ensuring foolproof security at these places.

Khalid directed Deputy Director Safari Zoo Park Syed Zafar-ul-Hassan to install cameras on emergent basis at entrance and other places and security lapses detected through monitoring of cameras should immediately be removed. He also directed in-charge officers of Safari Zoo Park and Lahore Zoo that security staff should remain alert while a close contact should be maintained with the law enforcement agencies. He said police authorities have also been requested to increase the patrolling near these places.

Syed Zafar-ul-Hassan, talking with the scribe, said boundary wall of the park is also being raised while CCTV cameras are also being installed at the park. He said security will be enhanced in the Zoo Safari Park.

Director General Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Mian Shakeel said government has directed the PHA to close down all the big public parks till appropriate security measures have been taken. He said parks will be opened in a phased manner. The government has directed us to construct the boundary walls with razor wires besides ensuring security and proper checking at the entrances, he said. He concluded that all the appropriate security measures will be taken and PHA has started working on different proposals.