Muharram security: City govt hands over rescue vehicles, gear

Pakistan Rangers to deploy over 6,000 personnel.

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has decided to hand over rescue equipment to Pakistan Rangers ahead of Ashura, said city administrator Lala Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday.

During a news conference at DCO camp office, Rehman announced that CDGK is providing Rangers with 20 fire engines, 20 water bowsers, five ambulances and an electrical repairing van for Muharram security arrangements. CDGK’s hospitals and medical centres have also been put on high alert, he said.

“CDGK is willing to provide authorities with all possible facilities and does not expect any financial assistance from the provincial government,” he said. He regretted that Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was not officially on board but added that he has received substantial support from them, such as provision of water bowsers.

He also said he has personally contacted Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) officials for their cooperation since “KESC has not managed to ensure that load-shedding will not happen at imambargahs during the first 10 days of Muharram”.

The Civic Centre Command and Control Centre and the DCO camp office will continue working for 48 hours on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. He said that he will personally monitor the procession on MA Jinnah Road from the control centre with other CDGK officials. Doctors and paramedics will also be deployed on the procession route.

6,000 Rangers personnel deployed across Sindh

Over 6,000 Rangers personnel will be deployed across the province to deal with any terrorist activity during the 8th, 9th and 10th of Muharram, said Brigadier Waseem Ayub of the Sindh Rangers on Tuesday.

Addressing a news conference at the Rangers’ headquarters, Brigadier Ayub announced that around 557 vehicles and 301 motorcycles have been provided to Rangers personnel.

“It is our appeal to mourners to keep a close eye on their surroundings and inform the security personnel immediately if they spot any suspicious person, bag or vehicle,” he said. “We also appealed to Shia scholars and clerics to request mourners not to destroy property in case of any mishap.”

The city is distributed into three zones, where the Rangers personnel will be on duty. The main processions will be monitored in the Command and Control Room through CCTV cameras while smaller processions will also be provided security by the Rangers, he assured.

Security personnel have been deployed at the entry and exit points of the city, including train stops, bus stops and the airport, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2010.