Arrangements: Security stepped up for Ashura

HYDERABAD/ KARACHI:

Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali ordered police officials to keep an eye on all mourning processions routes, water stalls, medical camps, hotels, guest houses and other residential places in the city.

He directed all police officials to prepare response teams under Muharram contingency plan. He issued these directives while reviewing Muharram contingency plan, 2015, for Muharram 8 at his office on Wednesday. He further directed officials to ensure deployment of heavy contingents of police, fire brigade vehicles, ambulances and cranes along all mourning processions' routes.

At least 568 majalis and 179 mourning processions will be organised today in different areas of Karachi.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, 564 mourning processions and 325 majalis will be organised between Muharram 7 and Muharram 10. The police have declared 39 processions and 17 majalis as very sensitive due to their security.

Another 73 processions and 57 majalis have been classified as sensitive. Up to 2,000 policemen besides hundreds of the Rangers personnel and volunteers have been deployed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2015.