Over 10,000 cops deployed in Peshawar for Muharram
Women officers to be deployed, BDU to check procession routes multiple times
KP Police PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
As Muharramul Haram starts, police in the provincial capital has finalised a comprehensive security plan for the holy month, envisioning the deployment of some 10,000 police officers across the city.
A notification issued by the Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karim Khan on Sunday stated that these officers will be deployed both inside and outside imambargahs and other congregation sites for security purposes.
CCPO Karim elaborate that congregation and procession participants will be protected by a three-tier security envelope which will also include snipers deployed on rooftops along the procession routes. Further, anyone wishing to attend congregations or processions will be subject to a special body search regime at the entrances points. For this purpose, lady police officers will be deployed.
Moreover, the plan stated that all Muharram procession routes will be thoroughly checked, multiple times by the bomb disposal unit (BDU) and sniffer dogs. Armoured personnel carriers, ambulances, and Rescue 1122 personnel will also be stationed around the clock at key locations across the city.
Furthermore, the procession routes and key religious installations will be monitored through a network of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras which will be looking out for suspicious people.
Apart from the security deployment, traffic police personnel will be stationed at key transit points under a traffic plan to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
A senior security official, when asked about the plan, told The Express Tribune that they are currently mulling a decision to suspend mobile phone service in the city on Muharram 9 and 10 to ensure stringent security.
In this regard, he said that the necessary official correspondence has also been shared with the relevant security officials and the Chief Minister House.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar district administration has imposed a ban on wall-chalking, pillion-riding, distribution of posters, display of arms, use of tinted glasses in vehicles and provocative speeches in the district under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) till Muharram 13.
On Saturday, the Dera Ismail Khan district administration had imposed Section 144 under which all ammunition outlets were directed to remain closed for Muharram. The district administration said that the measures were taken after several police check-posts were targeted in the district during the month and a decision was taken in a high-level meeting on Saturday. The district administration has also banned pillion riding in the district.
Last week, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief secretary had chaired jirgas in Kohat, Hangu and DI Khan districts for maintaining peace during Muharram.
IED kills Bajaur notable
A Bajaur notable was assassinated on Sunday when he was targeted in a bomb attack. Immediately after the attack, security forces tightened security in the district.
A local security official told The Express Tribune that local notable Hashim Khan was travelling through the Charmang area in Nawagai tehsil of the tribal district when his convoy came under attack from an improvised explosive device (IED) which had been planted by the roadside.
The official confirmed that Hashim was killed in the attack.
Security forces cordon the area after the blast and searched miscreants. However, there were no reports of arrests until the filing of this report. Meanwhile, the district administration has launched an investigation into the incident.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN BAJAUR
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2019.
As Muharramul Haram starts, police in the provincial capital has finalised a comprehensive security plan for the holy month, envisioning the deployment of some 10,000 police officers across the city.
A notification issued by the Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karim Khan on Sunday stated that these officers will be deployed both inside and outside imambargahs and other congregation sites for security purposes.
CCPO Karim elaborate that congregation and procession participants will be protected by a three-tier security envelope which will also include snipers deployed on rooftops along the procession routes. Further, anyone wishing to attend congregations or processions will be subject to a special body search regime at the entrances points. For this purpose, lady police officers will be deployed.
Moreover, the plan stated that all Muharram procession routes will be thoroughly checked, multiple times by the bomb disposal unit (BDU) and sniffer dogs. Armoured personnel carriers, ambulances, and Rescue 1122 personnel will also be stationed around the clock at key locations across the city.
Furthermore, the procession routes and key religious installations will be monitored through a network of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras which will be looking out for suspicious people.
Apart from the security deployment, traffic police personnel will be stationed at key transit points under a traffic plan to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
A senior security official, when asked about the plan, told The Express Tribune that they are currently mulling a decision to suspend mobile phone service in the city on Muharram 9 and 10 to ensure stringent security.
In this regard, he said that the necessary official correspondence has also been shared with the relevant security officials and the Chief Minister House.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar district administration has imposed a ban on wall-chalking, pillion-riding, distribution of posters, display of arms, use of tinted glasses in vehicles and provocative speeches in the district under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) till Muharram 13.
On Saturday, the Dera Ismail Khan district administration had imposed Section 144 under which all ammunition outlets were directed to remain closed for Muharram. The district administration said that the measures were taken after several police check-posts were targeted in the district during the month and a decision was taken in a high-level meeting on Saturday. The district administration has also banned pillion riding in the district.
Last week, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief secretary had chaired jirgas in Kohat, Hangu and DI Khan districts for maintaining peace during Muharram.
IED kills Bajaur notable
A Bajaur notable was assassinated on Sunday when he was targeted in a bomb attack. Immediately after the attack, security forces tightened security in the district.
A local security official told The Express Tribune that local notable Hashim Khan was travelling through the Charmang area in Nawagai tehsil of the tribal district when his convoy came under attack from an improvised explosive device (IED) which had been planted by the roadside.
The official confirmed that Hashim was killed in the attack.
Security forces cordon the area after the blast and searched miscreants. However, there were no reports of arrests until the filing of this report. Meanwhile, the district administration has launched an investigation into the incident.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN BAJAUR
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2019.