ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
Cellular phone services are likely to be suspended in major cities on 10th Muharram to ensure foolproof security to countrywide Majalis and processions.
Reports said that the services would remain suspended on Ashura from dawn to dusk in almost all major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta. Reports say authorities have finalised security arrangements for Majalis and mourning processions that would be held during 8th to 10th of Muharramul Haraam.
“Every possible measure is being taken to maintain peace during Muharram. The elements who tried to disturb religious harmony will be dealt with an iron hand,” a senior police official said. He urged the Ulema to forge unity among their ranks and promote brotherhood, love and fraternity for the peaceful observance of Ashura.
In order to foil any untoward incident during Muhrram, police have chalked out a major security plan for the sensitive cities. Many Imambargahs and mosques have been declared sensitive, with heavy deployment of police, Elite force, Special Forces, FC and Rangers on the worships places. To monitor the security situation, control rooms have been established in almost all major cities, including Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Islamabad.
Strict security measures have also been adopted in Azad Kashmir to avoid any untoward incident during Muharam, with installation of closed circuit cameras at sensitive places. Officials said that CCTV cameras have been installed at 12 entry points to Azad Kashmir from Pakistan to keep the record of the people entering into Azad Kashmir from Pakistan besides keeping the identity card numbers of all those people.
Readable machines at all security check posts have also been installed through which, the data of all those persons would be transferred to police while all the hotels and guest houses would also transfer the data of their guest to police through computer system.
In Sindh, the provincial government has imposed a ban on pillion-riding in seven cities. The ban – enforced in in Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, Jamshoro, Sanghar and Shikarpur – would remain effective till 10th of Muharram. Use of motorbike is banned for three days in Hangu town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said.