CM orders foolproof security arrangements for Muharram

Shahbaz says maintaining order a primary responsibility of government

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday that every step would be taken to protect citizens’ lives and properties during the holy month of Muharram.

He made the remarks at a meeting convened to finalise security arrangements province-wide during the month. Sharif said the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order had already been instructed to maintain peace across the province over Muharram. The chief minister said maintaining order was a primary responsibility of the government. He said no stone should be left unturned to secure citizens’ lives and properties during the holy month.

The chief minister said adequate resources would be allocated to ensure that peace was maintained in the province.

He said a comprehensive security plan should be formulated in this regard and its effective implementation should be made certain. The chief minister said security arrangements made this year should outclass those made last year.

Sharif said the responsibilities of police, law enforcement agencies and district authorities had increased manifold in view of the prevailing circumstances.

The chief minister ordered foolproof security arrangements to be made in districts province-wide before the holy month commenced. Sharif said special attention should be given to securing sensitive spots including mosques, imambargahs and other religious places.

The chief minister said indiscriminate action should be taken against those delivering provocative speeches, chalking graffiti and publishing and proliferating material that compromised religious harmony. Sharif said arrangements to secure majalis and processions should be finalised. He said all relevant departments should remain vigilant and strive to maintain order.

The chief minister said the ban on exhibition of firearms should be proactively enforced. He said a comprehensive strategy should be formulated to regulate the time and route of processions.

The chief minister said members of peace committees across the provincial, divisional, district and tehsil levels should effectively discharge their duties.

Sharif said core management teams should be established at police stations on the tehsil, district and divisional levels while control rooms should be established across districts and divisions.

He said Cabinet Committee on Law and Order members should visit all divisions to review and finalise security arrangements.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Government Spokesperson Zaeem Qadri, the IGP and the home secretary among other officials were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2015.