Security plan for Pak-Sri Lanka Test finalised

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Amir Farooqi of East Range has finalised a comprehensive security plan for the Pakistan-Sir Lanka Test matche at the National Stadium Karachi starting on December 19, with a deployment of over 2,400 personnel.

Talking to The News on Tuesday, he said that he held a meeting with his subordinates and had finalised the security plan.

Under the plan, a full dress rehearsal of the match was conducted, the security arrangements were made keeping in consideration the threat perception about suicide bombers in multiple vehicles, multiple human suicide bombers, roadside explosions, indiscriminate firing in the vicinity of the hotel or the route, drive-by shootings, exploding fire crackers to create confusion/ chaos and also any other incident causing panic among the cricket teams and officials.

Objectives

The plan aims to ensure the safety and security of the players and officials, the officials will also ensure that no commotion or embarrassing situation is caused on the route and around the hotel and that no act of terrorism/sabotage takes place at the route and around the hotel or in the vicinity and also to maintain close surveillance on suspicious individuals and activity.

Moreover, deployments of law enforcers will be made at the Karachi airport, hotels of stay, route protection, National Stadium Karachi and along the route of the shuttle service.

Special Branch

The additional IG of the Special Branch has been requested to provide sufficient staff of the Special Branch alongwith metal detectors and install walk through gates at the hotel entrance. He has also been asked to provide intelligence cover along the route, hotels and the National Stadium Karachi to feed the local police for precautionary measures.

Traffic

The DIG Traffic Karachi has been requested to make necessary traffic arrangements at the Karachi airport, alongwith the route, hotels and the National Stadium Karachi. Moreover, the communication system between the law enforcers will be made through wireless and telephone.

General instruction

DIG Farooqi said that the ground officers would brief their subordinates about the importance of the occasion and responsibility of every individual, especially the rooftop staff, and they would provided binoculars and walkie talkie sets for quick communication.

Venerable points should be identified and manned properly. Similarly entry and exit points should be regulated and no unauthorised person should be allowed to move in the cordoned area. The decision taken in the meeting should be implemented in letter and spirit. Duties should be performed politely yet firmly.

Moreover, high-level of responsibility, vigilance and smartness should be ensured while performing these duties. All ranks will wear neat and clean uniforms as per standing orders and any slackness/negligence should be taken very seriously and the person should be taken to task.

Sufficient anti-riot reserve force personnel should be kept at police lines with the transport and communication system to ensure quick mobilisation in case of any emergency.

The deployment and patrolling should be in such a manner as to cover the aspects of show force and prevention of all kinds of crimes and terrorism.

He added that a total deployment of 2,425 personnel with 93 police mobiles, 21 motorcycle squads, seven armoured personnel carrier and twenty mobiles of the Special Security Unit (SSU) would be in place.