Round-up: Security measures across Pakistan for Muharram 9, 10

Several security measures taken across the country including police deployment, CCTV cameras, ban on pillion riding.

The security situation across Pakistan began to deteriorate as Muharram arrived, with three blasts taking place on Wednesday night in Karachi and Rawalpindi, claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who have threatened more attacks on Shias.

The government has repeatedly made claims of heightening security in order to prevent untoward incidents during the holy month, along with suspending cellular services and banning pillion riding. On Thursday, two bombs were successfully defused in Peshawar and one in Karachi planted near an imambargah.

Following are the security measures taken across the country:

Sindh

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in contradiction with its earlier statements, claimed on Thursday that the army has accepted the Sindh government's request of providing security in the province.

The army will remain on high-alert during Muharram, said ISPR.

Apart from the army, 40,000 officials of the police, Rangers and FC will be deployed in Karachi on Muharram 9 and 10, while the MA Jinnah road will be blocked with containers on Thursday night, starting from Numaish Chowrangi till Tower.

Police officials will also be deployed on high buildings to monitor security.

Around 350 CCTV cameras have also been installed on routes leading from Nishtar Park to Tower, while shops on all routes of the processions will remain closed. The routes will be checked by the bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs.

A total of 10,000 policemen will be deployed to provide security to the main procession.

Around 7,000 personnel comprised of police, rangers and volunteers will provide security at 783 congregations and 712 mourning processions that will take place in Hyderabad from Muharram 8 to 10. According to police officials, 82 places including 38 imambargahs have been declared sensitive.

Punjab

IG Punjab Haji Habibur Rehman informed the media that the Punjab police have made elaborate security arrangements for Muharram. “The strength of security officials will be 120,000 who will monitor the processions, while a force of 15,000 men will cover the main procession,” he said.

The IG added that CCTV cameras will monitor security at all entry, exit points of Lahore.

Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Zulfiqar Khosa announced a ban on pillion riding across the province on Muharram 8, 9 and 10 .

Balochistan

Chief Minister of Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani called upon security forces and officials to make special preparations for Ashura, during a meeting in Quetta which addressed the law and order situation.

He personally visited the entire route of the Ashura procession and the City Police Station to discuss security issues with officials.

Raisani also issued categorical and firm orders to take action against those behind subversive actions, such as the bomb blast in Shabaz Town yesterday.

In Balochistan, eight districts, including Quetta, have been declared sensitive. Over 5,000 policemen and 21 platoons of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) would be deployed in the provincial capital alone.

One army brigade will be on standby in Quetta and aerial surveillance of processions will be conducted. The procession routes for the mourning processions would be scanned for potential threats, especially explosives, beforehand.

In addition to this, five FC platoons each will be deployed in Zhob and Loralai, eight in Kachhi, three in Sibi and two in Jaffarabad.

G-B, K-P

Police have decided that all cinemas, hotels, CD and music shops will remain closed from the first to the tenth of Muharram, while all routes for Muharram procession will remain sealed.

Additional police contingents will be deployed across Peshawar and the city will be sealed to facilitate the procession. Traffic from Qissa Khawani Bazaar will be diverted through alternate routes starting from the first day of Muharram.

Similarly stringent steps were taken in sensitive areas in southern districts of the province. The Bannu district administration has imposed a curfew in sensitive areas around imambargahs.

As part of security arrangements ahead of Muharram, the district administration of Gilgit has decided to ban motorcycles within the city.