Muharram processions: 10,000 volunteers to assist security forces on Ashura

Religious minister says both sunnis and shias selected to promote harmony.

MULTAN/BAHAWALPUR/FAISALABAD:

Ten thousand volunteers will assist law enforcement agencies and district administration with security arrangements for the Ashura processions throughout the province.

Of these, 7,000 are already registered with the administrations. The remaining have been selected in consultation with religious and civil society organisations.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Minister for Religious Affairs Ehsaanud Din Qureshi said volunteers had been selected from both Sunni and Shia communities to promote harmony among the two sects.

Multan City Police Officer Amir Zulfiqar Khan hoped that liaison between the police and civilians bodes well for security arrangements.

Mohammad, a volunteer, said he had been volunteering for Muharram security for over five years now. He said cooperation among people from the two sects would be helpful in promoting peace in the country.

Yawar, another volunteer, said that though there was risk involved in the work but the appreciation they received from the people compensated for it.

He said mostly their work involved helping senior citizens and children during the processions.

The religious affairs minister said that the government had already held discussions with clerics from different schools of thought to take them on board on the security arrangements for the month. He said the government had earlier used the services of volunteers for arrangements at other religious ceremonies as well.

Psychologist Khalid Saeed said the idea to induct volunteers from different sects could be useful in eliminating differences between the communities and bringing people closer to one another.

Additional policemen to guard 103 ‘sensitive points’ in Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur police have identified 103 sensitive points in the district and announced plans to deploy additional personnel to ensure security on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

This was stated on Saturday by Regional Police Officer Capt (retd) Syed Muhammad Abid Qadri.

He said security arrangements for the Ashura processions had been finalised and a plan devised to maintain law and order in the region.

He said control rooms had been set up in Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan and deputy superintendents of police directed to supervise security arrangements of their respective district from these facilities.

He said as many as 485 processions and 1,315 majalis would be organised in Bahawalpur Region on 9th and 10th of Muharram.

Of these, he said, 42 processions and 100 majalis were sensitive from security point of view and additional policemen would be deployed on the route of these processions and in the vicinity of the majalis.

He said more than 11,000 policemen and 334 Elite Force officials would perform security duties on the two days in the region.

He said the 19th platoon of the Punjab Constabulary would be on stand by to aid the police and Elite Force for maintaining law and order if there was an emergency.

Bahwalpur region administration has banned the entry of as many as 103 clerics during the month. Besides, 56 have been stopped from delivering sermons and speaking in public.

The RPO said besides the policemen accompanying the processions additional personnel would be deployed on rooftops of buildings along the route to monitor the situation and take prompt action if there was a security threat.

He said police would coordinate with the Rescue1122 officials and assist them with rescue work in case there was an emergency.

He said policemen in plainclothes would also perform duties along and around the processions’ routes.

The district administration has banned pillion riding and display of weapons, distribution of provocative literature, wall chalking and misuse of loudspeaker during the month under Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

More than 3,800 policemen for security in Faisalabad

In Faisalabad, 18 superintendents of police/deputy superintendents of police, 42 inspectors, 542 sub inspectors/assistant sub inspectors and 3,232 constables would be deployed in the city for Ashura processions. In addition, 12 Elite Force teams would patrol the city.

Another 10 Elite Force teams and 10 reserve force teams will stand by at the the Police Lines and Kotwali police station to help in case of an emergency.

A police spokesman said closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed along the route of the Ashura procession.

He said policemen in plainclothes would also accompany the procession.

With additional reporting from Our correspondents.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2011.