Heightened security: Rawalpindi to deploy 6,000 police

Drones to be used to monitor Muharram processions

RAWALPINDI: The police in Rawalpindi will deploy over 6,000 officials as part of their security plan for the first 10 days of Muharram.

According to City Police Officer Israr Ahmed Abbasi, all officials who will be deployed in the city have gone through a psychological test.

Abbasi told journalists on Saturday that as many as 6,100 police personnel will be deployed on Muharram 7 and on Ashura.

The CPO further said that as per the approved plan, around 316 mourning processions and 1,766 congregations will be held in the district during the first ten days.

Police have divided the city into different areas as per security needs. Abbasi said that 41 processions are considered as ‘very sensitive’ and have been listed in category A, while 63 processions have been listed in category B and 212 procession are in category C.

As far congregations are concerned, 209 have been deemed ‘very sensitive’ and have been placed in category A, 335 in category B, and 1,212 in category C.

He added that 46 mourning procession have been granted licenses while 270 processions are traditional.

To bolster security measures, Abbasi said that they have trained members of the Shaheen Force to check suspects using metal detectors. Furthermore, police will be using drones to monitor mourning processions.

The official further said that members of the National Volunteer Force will also be deployed along with police during the first 10 days of Muharram.

Abbasi said that he had held various meetings with ulemas of all sects during which they had assured him of their complete corporation for maintaining peace during Muharram.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2016.