Security plan chalked out for Muharram

112 firebrand clerics barred from entering Pindi in Hijri calendar’s first month

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi district administration and police have chalked out a foolproof security plan to avert any untoward incident and maintain peace and harmony during the first 10 days of Muharram.

As part of the security plan, around 3,500 police personnel along with Rangers and volunteers will be deployed on the routes of processions during Muharram, especially on the 9th and 10th of Ashura.

Sources said that the foolproof security of Imambargahs across the district has been chalked out for the peaceful culmination of Muharram processions.

Under the plan, Rangers have also been called to assist the police while the army will remain on red alert from the 7th to 10th of Muharram.

Aerial surveillance of the mourning processions will also be carried out via helicopters.

Under the security plan, drone coverage of mourning processions has been banned. During the Ashura processions, residents will not be allowed on rooftops, balconies, plazas and houses.

The district administration has also banned collecting bricks on roofs of houses on both sides of procession routes.

Under the security plan, no one will be allowed to carry matches and lighters during the Muharram processions.

People will use walk-through gates to join mourning processions while all streets along the routes of the processions will be sealed with barbed wire.

Central roads will also be sealed with containers and trolleys. The use of loudspeakers will be prohibited in mosques except for the Azan during Muharram.

On the day, mobile phone and internet service will remain closed from 9 am to 11 pm on Ashura.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi district administration has banned 112 firebrand clerics belonging to various schools of thought from entering the district during the month of Muharram.

The Rawalpindi deputy commissioner has also issued orders to the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation and Cantonment boards to carry our repair work on broken streets and roads to be used for mourning processions.

Instructions have also been issued to the custodians of Imambargahs to arrange generators and heavy UPS to deal with power outages during Muharram.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq said that strict measures will be put in place for foolproof security of mourners during Muharram.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2022.