Twin cities in lockdown for Muharram 9 procession

Cellular networks to remain open in capital, army deployed in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: The district administration, law enforcement and security agencies in the twin cities have come out in full force to guard against any attempt to sabotage processions and congregations marking Muharram 9.

However, the government has curiously decided to keep cellular networks in the capital on even as many parts of the country decided otherwise.

Capital security

In the capital, the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has devised a special traffic plan which will see over 520 policemen deployed along various procession routes. Further around 3,500 personnel of police, Rangers, and the FC would be deployed for guarding the main mourning procession which is expected to commence and conclude at the Markazi Imambargah in Sector G-6 on Saturday.

“There will be five security cordons with a radius of three to four kilometres around the procession,” SSP-Operations Sajid Kiani said.

Meanwhile, SSP (Traffic) Malik Matloob said that he will personally monitor traffic arrangements while four DSPs and 21 Inspectors will perform duties to ensure smooth flow of traffic and guide road users to alternate routes to avoid any inconvenience.

Many roads in and around Sector G-6 would remain closed from 8am to 8pm.



Thee traffic police said that the Fazle Haq Road from China Chowk to Kulsum Plaza, Post Office Service Road, Saddar Road from Iqball Hall to Melody, Municipal Road from Lal Masjid to GPO, and Luqman Hakeem Road from Polyclinic to Iqball Hall will remain closed for traffic as the main procession from Imam Bargah Asna-e-Ashri Sector G-6/2 would pass through these roads.

The second procession of Muharram 9 will be taken out from Imambargah Musa Kazim in Sector I-10/1 at midnight. Many link and service roads along IJP Road in Sector I-10 remained closed due to security reasons.

Pindi security

In Pindi, over 5,000 policemen will guard 79 mourning processions and 206 congregations. Police will monitor processions from the air to ensure the security of mourners.

Further, additional units of Special Branch, Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary, women police along with district police would be deployed. Parking will not be allowed in a 200-yard radius of Imambarghs while everyone except for armed law enforcement personnel will be deployed on rooftops of buildings along the main procession routes.

Traffic will be barred from plying from Committee Chowk to Iqbal Road. No vehicle would be allowed on DAV College Road and Iqbal Road.

Public transport heading to City Saddar Road would be diverted to Mohanpura road and traffic from Novelty cinema would be redirected through Kashmiri bazaar. Traffic coming from Gunjmandi would be diverted to TB hospital, Pirwadhai and Dhoke Dalal.

Cellular networks

The Islamabad Police have said that unlike previous years, mobile phone service will not be suspended in the capital to maintain security around the main mourning procession.

Instead, authorities have said that security measures have been enhanced for processions.

“Mobile phone service will not be suspended this year. Instead, we have increased security cordons around processions from three to five to ensure security,” said SSP Kiani.

He added mobile phone service suspension during previous years not only created difficulties for the public, but it was also a hurdle for law enforcement agencies.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2017.