Muharram processions: Security of sensitive places tightened
Number of personnel deployed increased with the arrival of new Islamic year.
ISLAMABAD:
The city police have finalised arrangements to provide security to the processions and majalis across the city, from the first of Muharram (Wednesday) to Ashura day.
Additional reserves of police personnel were deputed at the five most sensitive Imambargahs of the city including the biggest one, the Markazi G-6 Imambargah. Here, majalis are held on a daily basis, and the biggest Ashura procession of the capital originates and subsequently culminates.
“An additional police reserve of 20 personnel has been deputed at the G-6 Imambargah. A police commandos’ reserve has also been stationed at its entrance,” said SHO Aabpara Police Station, Khalid Mehmood. He said all streets and roads leading to the Imambargah were closed with help of barbed wires and movable barriers.
Furthermore, police sharpshooters have been deployed at the rooftops of the nearby buildings. Arrangements were also made for body search of all men and women entering the Imambargah, where a majlis was also held on Wednesday night.
Similar arrangements were made for the security of all Imambargahs, including Bari Imam, Tarlai, sector G-9 and Shah Allah Ditta Imambargah, the other four potential trouble spots besides sector G-6.
Senior officers were directed by the Senior Superintendent of Police Operations Tahir Alam Khan to personally monitor and supervise the security arrangements for all Muharram processions in their respective areas.
All link roads leading to the ‘potential trouble spots’ will be closed for public and police officials with moveable barriers have been deployed at the entry and exit points of the areas of the sensitive Imambargahs.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2010.
The city police have finalised arrangements to provide security to the processions and majalis across the city, from the first of Muharram (Wednesday) to Ashura day.
Additional reserves of police personnel were deputed at the five most sensitive Imambargahs of the city including the biggest one, the Markazi G-6 Imambargah. Here, majalis are held on a daily basis, and the biggest Ashura procession of the capital originates and subsequently culminates.
“An additional police reserve of 20 personnel has been deputed at the G-6 Imambargah. A police commandos’ reserve has also been stationed at its entrance,” said SHO Aabpara Police Station, Khalid Mehmood. He said all streets and roads leading to the Imambargah were closed with help of barbed wires and movable barriers.
Furthermore, police sharpshooters have been deployed at the rooftops of the nearby buildings. Arrangements were also made for body search of all men and women entering the Imambargah, where a majlis was also held on Wednesday night.
Similar arrangements were made for the security of all Imambargahs, including Bari Imam, Tarlai, sector G-9 and Shah Allah Ditta Imambargah, the other four potential trouble spots besides sector G-6.
Senior officers were directed by the Senior Superintendent of Police Operations Tahir Alam Khan to personally monitor and supervise the security arrangements for all Muharram processions in their respective areas.
All link roads leading to the ‘potential trouble spots’ will be closed for public and police officials with moveable barriers have been deployed at the entry and exit points of the areas of the sensitive Imambargahs.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2010.