Over 5,000 cops, sharpshooters deployed for security of Milad processions

At least 40 processions will emerge from across the city to converge at Nishtar Park in the evening

KARACHI:

More than 5,000 police officers and personnel including Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams of the Special Security Unit of Karachi police will provide security to the central procession including the routes and corridors of the main procession on Rabiul Awwal 12.

The main procession of the Eid Miladun Nabi will emerge from the Memon Masjid and head down on the MA Jinnah Road to culminate at Nishtar Park. Other processions will join in from Korangi, and Nazimabad.

The bomb disposal squad has already conducted sweeping of the route, while three more checks will be conducted with the help of detectors and sniffer dogs.

According to a spokesperson, the Karachi police are performing duties in various parts of the city for the security of the processions and gatherings related to the Eid Miladun Nabi.

The Karachi police's 78 senior officers along with 4,087 constables, head constables, 400 Commandos of SSU SWAT teams and 658 personnel of the Security Division will secure the roiute of the main procession of the Rabiul Awwal 12. At least 750 volunteers of various NGOs are assisting the law enforcers too.

The command and control of the SSU will be available for monitoring, the spokesman said adding that the SSU sharpshooters have been deployed along the sides and corridors of the main procession. The SWAT teams of SSU are always ready to deal with any untoward incident, he said. A heavy contingent of police personnel including senior officers of Karachi Police is on duty to monitor the processions and gatherings on Rabiul Awal 12.

Traffic police officers and personnel have been deployed to maintain the flow of traffic on the main procession routes and corridors, including alternative traffic routes arranged for the Rabiul Awal 12 procession in order to keep the people safe from any trouble.

"The Karachi Police is providing full security to the devotees participating in the processions, Milads and other such gatherings of Rabiul Awal 12," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson appealed to the public to keep an eye on their surroundings and immediately report any suspicious and unusual situation to the police on helpline Madadgar 15.

Processions

At least 40 processions will emerge from all over the city in connection with the celebration of Miladun-Nabi

The main procession will leave New Memon Masjid Bolton Market at 3pm via MA Jinnah Road under the leadership of Allama Shah Abdul Haq Qadri, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Maulana Abrar Ahmad Rahmani and other Ulema for Nishtar Park. The first procession will be taken out from Korangi under Jamaat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat at 1pm.

Leaders of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Karachi, visited Nishtar Park, the main venue of Eid Miladun Nabi Jalsa and reviewed the arrangements. Jamaat Ahle Sunnat leaders told the media at the Nishtar Part that provision of security, traffic management, electricity, sanitation and municipal serviced is the responsibility of the government. They said that the Jamaat is taking out more than 40 processions from various areas of the city on the day.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2021.