Muharram security: K-P to deploy 32,000 security personnel

Cellular services expected to be suspended, schools on procession routes in Peshawar closed for five days


Our Correspondents September 15, 2018
PHOTO: APP

PESHAWAR: Around 32,000 security personnel, including contingents from the police and army, will be deployed across the province apart from conducting aerial surveillance in five of the most sensitive districts in the province to ensure security during the main Muharram events.

This was disclosed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Salahuddin Mehsud while addressing the media at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines on Friday afternoon.

Mehsud said that of the 32,000 security forces deployed, 25,000 were policemen while the rest comprised of an army contingent numbering 7,000 soldiers along with contingents of the Frontier Corps and the Frontier Constabulary (FC).

“There are 268 imambargahs and around 3,000 majalis (congregations) and processions will take place and everything is in place for their security,” Mehsud said.

While Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Hangu and Kohat were listed as the most sensitive districts, he said that they had paid equal attention to security in all districts of the province.

“Arrangements have been made for the air surveillance of all the five sensitive districts,” he said, adding that there were three other districts which were near-sensitive but they were paying equal attention to all the districts.

“Each district has requested that the mobile services should be suspended on at least the ninth and tenth of Muharram while some districts have requested that cellular networks should be suspended on other days as well out of security concerns, he disclosed,” noting that the Home Department has been requested to implement the bans.

Terming the overall security situation of the country as better than in the past, he said that there was complete coordination between the police, army, and Frontier Corp.

CM chairs meeting on Muharram security

K-P Chief Minister Mehmood Khan on Friday urged law enforcing agencies to be sensitive during the holy month of Muharram and directed them to ensure that all deputed law enforcing personnel are at their posts during Muharram.

He directed this while presiding over a law and order situation meeting at the Chief Minister Secretariat in Peshawar on Friday.

Mahmood directed that there must be complete coordination amongst various government agencies and departments providing cooperation to the administration apart from monitoring sensitive places, hotels and more importantly constant surveillance of the border.

“There should be district committees for liaison with the community. These committees should also include elected representatives. These committees would remove all apprehensions and resolve issues arising at any stage,” he said.

The police have already deputed monitoring teams comprising police personnel to monitor congregations and sensitive areas. Aerial surveillance would also be carried out along with measures on the ground in sensitive districts.

Schools closed for five days in Peshawar

The Peshawar district administration has directed to close all educational institutions located along the Muharram procession routes in the city for five days.

Schools will thus remain closed from Muharram six to 10.  The decision was taken during a meeting with Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh

The participants discussed the problems being faced by students and the general public inside the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2018.

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