Safety first: Law enforcers finalise security plan for Muharram

About 20,000 policemen will keep watch.

KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies have finalised a comprehensive security plan to prevent any unwanted incident during Muharram. 

Processions will be monitored by aerial surveillance and walkthrough gates as well as scanners will be installed at entry points to gatherings. CCTV cameras will be set up to monitor majalis and processions across the city.

Several security checkpoints have already been established across Karachi and all law enforcement agencies are on high alert. Law enforcers' vacations during Muharram have been cancelled.

The security plan was chalked out after top officials from law enforcement agencies met each other as well as religious scholars and leaders. Law enforcers have also decided to conduct more operations in different parts of the city to apprehend suspects.

Every year, around 45,000 majalis and over 20,000 processions are organised in Karachi during the first ten days of Muharram. About 20,000 policemen, aided by Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel are on duty.

Over 500 imambargahs and Majlis have been declared sensitive and extra security measures have been taken for them. Highly sensitive areas include Ancholi, Rizvia, Orangi Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Soldier Bazaar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and MA Jinnah Road. The Sindh government might also restrict over 100 clerics from entering the province and about 50 from leaving it for other parts of the country.