KMC commissioner Samiuddin Siddiqui organised a meeting to discuss the action plan for the Chehlum. PHOTO: FILE
SUKKUR/ KARACHI:
Civic bodies all over the city meet to finalise arrangements of Hazrat Imam Hussain’s (RA) chehlum that will take place on December 24 (Tuesday).
The provincial health department declared emergency in all government hospitals and directed paramedical staff to make sure all important medicines are available.
Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui also held a meeting with various departments and religious scholars and urged them to promote harmony between sects and to denounce all provocative speech in order to avoid any unwanted incident during the holy day.
“Fire tenders and rescue ambulances will be deployed across the procession route while camps will be set up to facilitate the mourners” he added.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) commissioner Samiuddin Siddiqui also organised a meeting with KMC officials and law enforcement agencies to discuss the action plan for the Chehlum.
During the meeting, Samiuddin stressed that procession routes should be free of garbage and encroachments while KMC’s main camp has been set up at the Numaish roundabout.
Meanwhile, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) managing director also organised a meeting regarding continuous water supply to the areas from where the religious procession will pass.
Beefing security
Sindh IGP Shahid Nadeem Baloch has directed police to provide foolproof security to processions and majalis during Hazrat Imam Hussain’s (RA) chehlum on Tuesday. The directives were issued to divisional and district police officers and Baloch ordered them to brief police officials before deploying them in the field.
Police have divided the city into different sectors, with an SP in charge of each sector. These sectors are further divided into subsectors and each subsector is supervised by a DSP.
Strict security measures have also been adopted throughout Sukkur to avert any unwanted incident on the Chehlum of the martyrs of Karbala on December 24.
Besides a heavy contingent of police, Rangers and army personnel will also be deployed in Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur and Naushero Feroze. A meeting was held in the office of DIG Sukkur Sharjeel Kareem Kharal and was attended by all four SSPs of the districts. The meeting discussed and finalised security arrangements for the 173 mourning processions and 128 Majalis expected in the area.
Kharal informed the meeting that 6,000 policemen will be deployed in the area. Out of these, 1,000 will be deployed in Sukkur, 700 in Ghotki, 2,700 in Khairpur and 1,600 in Naushero Feroze. IGP Sindh has also been requested to send 1,400 more policemen, while army and Rangers will also help in reinforcing security, the DIG added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2013.
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