High security needed in Moharram due to threat of terrorism

by Tauqeer Abbas
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Every year, Pakistan government and its provinces governments had to arrange extraordinary security for special arrangements for security to those who observe Moharram rituals to commemorate the Martyrs of Karbala and their leader infallible Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet of Islam and humanity.

 

But, instead of taking concrete measures to eliminate the banned Deobandi takfiri outfits due to their links with Saudi Wahhabism, government shows its efficiency by deploying extraordinary force. One such example is the Sindh government that has directed the district administration and law enforcement agencies to take strict security measures for implementation of a code of conduct during Muharram to maintain peace and sectarian harmony.

They were also asked to use surveillance cameras, where required, and carry out cleanliness on the routes of Muharram processions and majalis.
The directives were issued by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah while chairing a high-level meeting here to review security arrangements during Muharram, which begins on Wednesday.
Referring to street crime, the meeting was informed that an intelligence-based operation had already been launched against street criminals, carjackers and bandits, whose results could be seen in the days to come.
Implementation of Muharram code of conduct ordered
Mr Shah observed that as the ulema of different schools of thought played a very constructive role in maintaining sectarian harmony in the province, there was no chance of any untoward incident during Muharram.
Over 69,000 police, 7,000 Rangers to perform duty
However, he said the Sindh government would provide complete security to every Muharram procession by deploying 69,545 policemen in addition to some 7,000 Rangers across the province.
He formed a committee comprising provincial ministers Saeed Ghani, Syed Nasir Shah and adviser Murtaza Wahab to hold meeting with ulema for implementation of the code of conduct.
“I would personally meet with ulema of different sects and take them into confidence on the decisions taken for their security,” he said.
Earlier, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir briefed the meeting on the code of conduct and said all the DIGs had been directed to provide adequate security till Chehlum.
Meetings of peace committees were also being held at all levels, he added.

Additional Inspector General Dr Amir Shaikh informed the meeting that there were 1,996 Imambargahs in the province, including 356 in Karachi, 590 in Hyderabad, 118 in Mirpurkhas, 93 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 374 in Sukkur and 456 in Larkana divisions.

He added that there would be 3,513 processions and 319 of them had been categorised as “most sensitive” and 1,059 as “sensitive”.
The meeting was told that out of 786 mourning processions, 11 were declared “most sensitive” and 312 as “sensitive”.

He said 17,558 policemen were being deployed in Karachi; 16,816 in Hyderabad; 2,237 in Mirpurkhas; 9,280 in Shaheed Benazirabad; 8,253 in Sukkur and 15,401 in Larkana divisions.
Around 7,000 Rangers personnel would be deployed in the province, he added.

Police and other law enforcement agencies had established close coordination and a control room had been set up in Karachi for timely dissemination of information, he said, adding that a mechanism had been evolved to share intelligence reports, and joint intelligence-based operations as well as joint flag march were being carried out.

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