Ashura: No pillion riding today

SIALKOT/ FAISALABAD/MULTAN: District administrations of Faisalabad and Sialkot have imposed a ban on pillion riding on the 10th of muharram.  Faisalabad DCO Naseem Sadiq said that the ban was put in place under the Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) as part of precautionary measures to ensure peace. He said women, children, senior citizens, journalists and public servants were exempt from the ban. Meanwhile, paramilitary forces and police on Monday conducted a joint flag march covering all of the 48 points identified as sensitive by the police and district administration from security purposes in Sialkot. As many as many as 154 ta’azia, alam and zuljinnah processions will be taken out in the district this year. These processions will end at Imam Sahib Chowk, Adda Pasruriyan.  In Multan, 5,200 policemen and 300 civil defence employees will perform security duties. Police have identified 24 sensitive spots in the district and deployed 550 officials on these points.  Police will use 42 close circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor the route of 132 processions that will be organised today.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2011.