Meeting reviews K-P’s Muharram security

8 districts declared highly sensitive, 6 sensitive

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to suspend mobile phones services in the sensitive districts during the Ashura in a bid to maintain law and order during the month of Muharram.

A high-level meeting to review the arrangements for the holy month of Muharram was held on Thursday under the chair of  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur.

The meeting took a detailed review of the security plan and other arrangements in order to maintain law and order during the month.

Chief Secretary, Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Muhammad Abid Majeed, Inspector General Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, administrative secretaries and other relevant high ups attended the meeting.

Divisional commissioners, regional police officers, deputy commissioners and district police officers also attended the meeting via video link.

While briefing the participants on the security plan and other arrangements for Muharram, it was told that Muharram processions and gatherings would be carried out in 14 districts of the province. Of which, eight districts have been reported as the most sensitive and other six as sensitive in terms of law and order and security arrangements.

About 40,000 security personnel would be deployed, whereas special contingents of FC and army would also be deployed for the security of processions and gatherings.

An integrated strategy in consultation with the all the stakeholders has been devised to effectively monitor the processions and gatherings.

“A central control room comprising representatives from all relevant departments and law enforcing agencies is also being set up at the home department for the purpose,” it was told during the briefing, adding that special arrangements had been made for the security of sensitive districts and spots across the province.

Processions and public gatherings would be monitored directly through CCTV cameras, while the administration has also banned the display of arms, pillion riding and hateful graffiti.

Special initiatives have also been proposed to constantly monitor social media sties in order to control the posting of hateful contents and negative propaganda during Muharram.

Similarly, mobile phones services in the sensitive districts would be suspended. Apart from, the staff of health and rescue departments would be assigned special duties to effectively deal with any untoward situation.

Addressing the participants, the chief minister said the maintenance of law and order during the holy month of Muharram is the top most priority of the government; therefore, the special attention will be given to the sensitive districts across the province to avoid any kind of unrest and unforeseen situation in the province.

He directed for the provision of the financial resources to maintain the security. Moreover, he directed that religious leaders of different sects and elected public representatives should be approached in an effort to promote religious harmony and tolerance during Muharram.