Cellular services suspended for Ashura

Surveillance, deployment boosted along with 2,500 wardens for traffic control

LAHORE:

Muharram 9 passed peacefully amid strict security arrangements throughout Punjab.

As many as 1,661 mourning processions and 3,943 majalis were organised throughout the province on the day.

According to government officials, at least 378 majalis and 75 processions, including four major processions, 16 licensed and 59 others were organised in the provincial capital.

The main procession in Lahore started in the morning from Pando Street, Islampura. After passing through its traditional route of Alamgir Road, Siraj Building, Main Bazaar Islampura, Baba Ground, Secretariat, Central Police Office, Old Anarkali and Khema Sadat it reached back at the Pando Street.

The mourners raised slogans throughout the route.

At intervals, zanjeer zani was also done by the mourners while religious scholars addressed them about the occasion.

Amid hot weather in the city, Sabeels of cold water, juices and sweat milk were set up throughout the procession routes.

Food was also distributed among people on the occasion. Lahore police guarded the routes and gatherings strictly.

The roads and streets leading to the venues were sealed using barbed wires, tents and shipping containers.

The participants were allowed entry from the designated points after checking at multiple points, frisking, passing metal detectors and walk-through gates.

As many as 14 SPs, 40 DSPs, 99 inspectors, 810 upper subordinates, 370 policewomen and Anti-Riot Force officials among about

10,000 personnel were deployed for security on the occasion. They are also assisted by volunteers.

About 900 CCTV cameras of Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) were employed for monitoring the processions.

Drone cameras were also used for the surveillance of the routes.

A ban on pillion riding was enforced as part of the security measures.

Mobile phone service remained suspended along the procession routes and in adjoining areas throughout the province.

Lahore traffic police deputed over 2,500 wardens under the supervision of 11 DSPs and 141 inspectors.

Senior police officers including CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, DIG Operations Afzal Kausar, CTO Muntazir Mehdi and the RPOs and DPOs patrolled their areas to review the security arrangements.

Punjab Police had set up a control room at Cental Police Office (CPO) to monitor the security situation throughout the province.

IG Faisal Shahkar visited the control room and said the facility was operational 24 hours a day to monitor the security of processions and majalis on 9th and 10th of Muharram.

He said security arrangements for the events were being continuously monitored from the control room and the situation was being observed moment by moment till the conclusion of all the processions.

Shahkar said there was a ban on pillion riding in all districts of the province and restrictions under Section 144 were being strictly enforced.

He said mobile phone service had been partially suspended at sensitive places in selected districts. CCTV cameras had been installed on the routes to monitor the processions in all the districts.

The inspector general said steps had been taken under a comprehensive strategy as per the standard operating procedures issued for the security of the main processions and majalis of Ashura Day in all districts of the province.

All processions and gatherings will strictly adhere to the schedule and routes, while compliance with the Loud Speaker Act along with prohibition of broadcasting of offensive content must be ensured, the provincial police chief said.

Additional IG Operations Sahibzada Shahzad Sultan and other officers were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2022.