Preparations in Pindi: Ashura to be held amid tight security
Main procession route sealed; army contingents to be deployed alongside police
RAWALPINDI:
Police and the district administration in Rawalpindi have finalised security arrangements for Ashura.
A total of six main processions of Zuljanah, Alam and Tazia will be taken out from different areas of city and culminate at 10pm at Imambargah Kadimi in Mohalla Imambara.
As many as 7,000 security personnel will be deployed to secure processions and majalis and maintain law and order in the district. Moreover, fourteen companies of Pakistan Army, 10 companies of Rangers and 40 platoons of the Punjab Constabulary will be deployed in the district. Aerial surveillance of processions will also be carried out.
The district administration has also banned pillion riding in the city for security reasons. Additional force of special branch police, elite force, constabulary, women police and Rangers along with district police will be deployed to ensure security of the mourning processions. The police will also be checking vehicles at entry and exit points of the city.
The administration has set up control rooms at divisional, district and tehsil level to monitor the situation. A total of 200 close circuit cameras have been installed along the route of main procession in Rawalpindi.
The traffic police have banned parking along the procession routes and near imambargahs. Traffic wardens will ensure a distance of at least 200 yards between parking and gatherings.
The authorities have also asked the residents to not stand on the rooftops of buildings along the procession route as security personnel will be deputed on rooftops. The police and bomb disposal squad will carry out special checking of the procession route before the start of the processions.
The mourners will be checked with metal detectors and walk-through gates would be installed at the entry points. Route of the main procession will be completely sealed and streets along the routes would be barricaded. The police have also prohibited vehicles and motorcycles to move with the processions.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2014.
Police and the district administration in Rawalpindi have finalised security arrangements for Ashura.
A total of six main processions of Zuljanah, Alam and Tazia will be taken out from different areas of city and culminate at 10pm at Imambargah Kadimi in Mohalla Imambara.
As many as 7,000 security personnel will be deployed to secure processions and majalis and maintain law and order in the district. Moreover, fourteen companies of Pakistan Army, 10 companies of Rangers and 40 platoons of the Punjab Constabulary will be deployed in the district. Aerial surveillance of processions will also be carried out.
The district administration has also banned pillion riding in the city for security reasons. Additional force of special branch police, elite force, constabulary, women police and Rangers along with district police will be deployed to ensure security of the mourning processions. The police will also be checking vehicles at entry and exit points of the city.
The administration has set up control rooms at divisional, district and tehsil level to monitor the situation. A total of 200 close circuit cameras have been installed along the route of main procession in Rawalpindi.
The traffic police have banned parking along the procession routes and near imambargahs. Traffic wardens will ensure a distance of at least 200 yards between parking and gatherings.
The authorities have also asked the residents to not stand on the rooftops of buildings along the procession route as security personnel will be deputed on rooftops. The police and bomb disposal squad will carry out special checking of the procession route before the start of the processions.
The mourners will be checked with metal detectors and walk-through gates would be installed at the entry points. Route of the main procession will be completely sealed and streets along the routes would be barricaded. The police have also prohibited vehicles and motorcycles to move with the processions.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2014.