Law and order: Security heightened in Bahawalpur

Police put on high alert and told to vigilantly monitor sensitive locations

BAHAWALPUR:

Bahawalpur Commissioner Captain (r) Javed Akbar said on Friday that security across the city had been heightened and Pakistan Army and Rangers companies had arrived to assist the administration in maintaining order.

He was addressing a meeting.

He urged lawmakers to maintain contacts with their constituencies.

“If arrangements for Muharram are lacking in some area, or if there is poor security, the city administration should be informed immediately,” he said.

Regional Police Officer Roy Muhammad Tahir told the meeting that all processions would have single entrances.

He said three barricades would set up at entrances to check visitors.

He said police had been put on high alert and had been told to vigilantly monitor sensitive locations.

District Coordination Officer Imran Sikandar Baloch said extra beds at hospitals had been reserved to cope with emergencies.

He said leaves of staff at public hospitals had been cancelled. He said there would be no load shedding on Ashura.

The administration had also made arrangements for back-up search lights.

Minister Malik Iqbal Channar expressed satisfaction with Muharram arrangements.

He said several meetings with clerics and religious scholars had been held.

He said they had been urged to respect one another and maintain harmony.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2014.