Pakistan Army tasked to oversee security in Hangu, Kurram Agency

The Pakistan Army has been tasked to oversee security in Hangu and Kurram Agency, Express News reported Friday.

Given the vulnerable security situation in Muharram, army contingents have been deployed across the districts.

Speaking to Express News, Commissioner Kohat said that aerial monitoring will be done by helicopter gunships and that security has been beefed up for Muharram processions.

Around 110 companies of the army have been put ‘on call’ in cities and towns declared as ‘highly sensitive areas’ in the month of Muharram.

The companies can be called to report on extremely short notice, even minutes. The move comes amid threats by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of mounting more attacks on Shia processions.

The civil administration had already declared provincial capitals Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar, and other areas like Jhang, Gilgit, Skardu and Parachinar as sensitive, while Rawalpindi was added to the list following a deadly bomb blast on Wednesday, said sources in the armed forces.