7,000 cops to guard over 440 processions, 1,900 gatherings

60 processions declared highly sensitive; entry of 33 clerics banned

ISLAMABAD: At least 60 mourning processions and 275 majaalis (sittings) in Rawalpindi have been marked highly sensitive by the police for which heightened security has been put in place. A total of 447 processions will be taken out in the district during Muharram apart from 1916 majaalisis.

Police have categorized all the processions and the gatherings into three categories according to their sensitivity and need of security. 60 processions have been placed in category A, 79 in category B, and 308 mourning processions have been put under category C.

Similarly, 275 gatehrings (majaalis) have been marked highly sensitive and placed in category A while 371 gatherings have been declared sensitive and placed in category B. Another 1270 majaalis have been listed under category C.

Most of these processions and gatherings will take place during the first ten days of Muharram.

There are two main Muharram processions in Rawalpindi, on 7th Muharram and then on Ashuran, the 10th. On 7th, the processions is taken out after dusk and culminates at dawn while on 10th, the processions is taken out in the morning and culminates in the evening.

The authorities have been extra cautious after the sectarian violence which erupted during the main Muharram procession in Raja Bazaar in 2013, after which the authorities had to impose a curfew and call in army to restore law and order.

Police say 6,000 cops will be deployed for the 7th Muharram processions while 7,000 policemen will guard the procession on Ashura. There will be three layers of security around the processions. Walk-through security gates would be installed at the entrance of processions while participants will go through security checks at various points during the procession as well.

Police will monitor the situation through CCTV cameras as well as drone cameras. Army and Rangers troops will also be deployed in the garrison city.

The total length of the procession will be swept for security ahead of start of procession while owners of all the buildings along the route will be bound not to allow any stranger in. Food and drinks which are set up for the mourners along the route will also be checked beforehand.

In the lead-up to Muharram, the police have held meetings will religious leaders of all the sects and organisers of processions and gatherings and briefed them about the security measures and code of ethics they have to follow. Police said display of arms, hate speech and provocative material will be strictly be prohibited and violators will be punished. Ban on loudspeakers and wall-chalking will also be enforced, while agreed upon timings for processions and gatherings will be strictly followed. Police said all the organisers had assured them of obeying time limitations.

The authorities have also banned entry of 33 firebrand clerics of various sects who were considered a threat to public peace. Another eight clerics who reside within the district have been put on watch and banned from addressing public.

Police have also trained volunteers as well as personnel of Civil Defence who would be deployed at the processions along with police. The volunteers have been trained in physical frisking techniques, use of metal detectors, and formation of security cordons. Training sessions have been held at the Rawalpindi police lines for the volunteers. Police said all the police personnel to be deployed for the processions will also be briefed about their duties.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2018.