Govt declares 1,229 majalis, 572 processions sensitive

Strict security measures ordered for Muharram processions

KARACHI: There will be a three-layer security cordon for processions and majalis in Muharram, as the Sindh government has declared 1,229 majalis, 384 mourning processions and 188 tazia processions from across the province as 'most-sensitive'.

This was stated by Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali while briefing Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at CM House on Thursday. The meeting was attended by the education and information senior minister Nisar Khuhro, home minister Sohail Siyal, chief secretary Siddique Memon, Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar, principal secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, home secretary Mukhtiar Soomro, additional IG Mushtaq Mahar and others.

Jamali said that there are 1,521 Imambargahs in Sindh from where 11,272 majalis, 4,335 mourning processions and 1,295 tazia processions are organised. "Out of those, 384 mourning processions and 188 tazia processions have been declared as most-sensitive," he said.

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Around 64,414 police personnel will be deployed to provide security to the imambargahs and the processions, Jamali said, adding that the district SSPs, under the guidance of their relevant DIGs, will soon issue their contingency plan.

It was revealed at the meeting that there were some terrorist threats from sectarian terrorists and anti-state elements, as some high-profile terrorists have been eliminated earlier, which can be the reason for the terrorists to retaliate.

The IG added that there were threats such as poisoning of water or food at the processions, impersonation of law enforcement agencies personnel and terrorist activities at Muharram rallies. "We have also started extensive search and sweep operations in coordination with the Rangers and intelligence agencies, while the survey of routes and venues of the processions was in progress," IG said.

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Around 234 cameras will be installed at 66 different locations for surveillance on Muharram 8, while 246 cameras will be installed at 69 locations for Muharram 9 and Muharram 10 processions, said Jamali. The CM directed the chief secretary to provide 200 portable cameras with portable control rooms of IT department. Earlier, Rangers DG gave a separate briefing to the CM on the deployment of Rangers during Muharram.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2015.