Ashura procession: Security arrangements for Gilgit finalised

A total of 1,600 police officials have been deployed at sensitive areas.

GILGIT: Security arrangement has been tightened and more personnel have been deployed in the provincial capital city for Ashura processions, said a police official on Tuesday.

The city has been divided into two zones to ensure foolproof security during the processions of Muharram, Superintendent of Police (SP) Azam Sultan told the Express Tribune.

The SP said that 1,600 personnel of the police and Pakistan Rangers have been deployed at sensitive points of the town. Police will ensure foolproof security in 10 imambargahs declared “highly sensitive” in the town. The official said that bomb disposal squads will also remain on high alert to meet any emergency.

“The arrangements are complete and we hope the situation will remain peaceful,” said SP Sultan. He added that close-circuit cameras have been fixed on routes of processions so that movement of people could be monitored.

All roads in Gilgit-Baltistan, including Karakoram Highway, are being closely monitored to scan entry of suspicious people in the area, he added.

Meanwhile the parliamentary committee formed ahead of the Muharram by the chief minister has expedited its efforts to maintain peace and harmony in the city which has witnessed violent sectarian riots in recent past. The committee met with clerics of Sunni and Shia sects on Tuesday and sought their cooperation in maintaining peace.

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