PM Shehbaz directs enhanced security coordination during Muharram

Military deployment approved to maintain law and order, strict monitoring of social media ordered

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for improved harmony and coordination with provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, to ensure security during Muharram, particularly on Ashura.

He conveyed these instructions during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad, where they discussed the law and order situation.

PM Shehbaz emphasised the need for strict monitoring of social media to curb the surge in hate speech and religious incitement.

A recent directive from the Ministry of Interior highlighted concerns about growing sectarian divides exacerbated by inflammatory content online, which poses a significant risk of escalating violence.

In response to these threats, the federal government has ordered Chief Secretaries and Inspectors General of Police across all provinces to implement stringent social media monitoring.

The aim is to prevent the spread of hateful and blasphemous content that fuels militancy and sectarian unrest.

The Interior Ministry has also authorised the deployment of military and paramilitary forces to assist civil administration in maintaining law and order during Muharram.

This measure is part of a broader strategy to ensure peace and security throughout the holy month, with specific deployments coordinated based on provincial requirements.

Additionally, the government has declared public holidays on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, corresponding to July 16 and 17, to commemorate Ashura.