Islamabad and Rawalpindi police along with a contingent of Rangers and rescue officials conducted a flag march through the twin cities on Sunday.
The separate march was held to show the public how prepared the police and other law enforcement agencies were to maintain the law and order during Muharram.
Islamabad police conducted the flag march in different areas of the city to maintain peace and tranquillity during Muharram.
The flag march was headed by SSP(Operations) Malik Jameel Zafar and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz.
SP Industrial Area and SP rural were also present during the flag march.
The march started from the Pakistan Sports Complex and culminated at the same spot after passing through Dhokri Chowk, Rawal Dam Chowk, Shehzad Town, Tramri Chow, Lehtrar Road, Khanna Bridge, Koral Chowk, PWD Housing Society, Kaak Bridge to Kahuta road, Imam Bargah Haideri in Sihala, Imam Bargah Niazian Expressway, Sain Boota Shrine Faizabad, Sector I-8Markaz, Imambargah Jafferia SectorI-10 Markaz, Imam Bargah Moosa Kazim, Imambargah Baltastania, Police Lines Headquarters, Kashmi rHighway, Jhangi Syedan, Imam Bargah Qadeemi to Imam Bargah Baitul Hussain and Aabpara Chowk.
SSP Operations Malik Jameel Zafar said that flag marches were being conducted in various areas to make security more effective and added that strict vigilance would be maintained like the previous year to maintain the law and order in the city.
All zonal SDPOs, SHOs of police stations, Islamabad traffic police personnel, Bravo vehicles, police commandos, Rescue 15 police personnel and patrolling police personnel participated in the flag march.
Rangers, the Islamabad administration and other law-enforcing agencies were also part of the flag march All the SPs have been tasked to maintain close liaison with peace committees and organizers of Majalis and processions.
The SSP (operations) directed all zonal SDPOs and SHOs for strict security arrangements during Muharram.
He said that it should be ensured to make arrangements for checking participants of Majalis and processions by using metal detectors.
Strict vigilance should be maintained to ensure that security measures are in place by the police as well as peace committees.
He said that it would be ensured that processions pass through the fixed routes and timings of processions to be observed strictly.
He also directed effective patrolling and use commando vehicles for the purpose.
The SSP (operations) has also asked citizens to cooperate with the Islamabad capital police to ensure effective policing.
Meanwhile, Rawalpindi city police, Rangers and rescue officials carried out their own flag march in the city to maintain peace during Muharram.
SSP operations, SP headquarters divisional SPs, SDPOs, SHOs along with district police, Elite Force, traffic police and Dolphin squad participated in the flag march.
The purpose of the flag march was to exhibit the preparedness to maintain the law and order during the month of Muharram.
The flag march started from Rawalpindi Police Lines and passed through various routes of the city and ended at the same point.
Under the security plan, around10,000 personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies will be deployed for foolproof security in Rawalpindi.
Besides police personnel, Rangers will also be deployed on Ashura, while the army will remain on high alert.
According to the authorities, mobile service will remain suspended from 7th Muharram to 10thMuharram in most sensitive areas.
The leaves of police personnel had also been cancelled.
The Rawalpindi district administration has imposed a ban on the entry of 65 firebrand religious figures during Muharram.
A senior police officer, on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the Rawalpindi police, with the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies, has devised a foolproof security plan for Muharram.
A total of over 1,500 Majalis and100 mourning processions will be held in the Rawalpindi district.
Security agencies have divided all Majlis and mourning processions into three different categories.
Highly sensitive processions have been included in A-category, less sensitive processions have been included in B-category, while moderately sensitive processions have been included in C-category.
A total of five mourning processions have been declared highly sensitive and placed in A-category, while 112 processions and congregations have been placed in other categories.
Police officials said that all mourning processions from the 7th Muharram to the 10th of Muharram have been declared highly sensitive.
Around 12 Imambargahs across the city have also been declared highly sensitive and police personnel will be deployed in these Imambargahs.
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