Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has directed that all out resources should be utilised for maintaining religious harmony and law and order during Muharram-ul-Haram and law-enforcement agencies should remain fully alert for this purpose. He said that due to comprehensive security arrangements made for Muharram last year, an exemplary atmosphere of peace and harmony prevailed in the province and the same strategy should be adopted even more effectively this year.
He also issued instructions for activating cabinet committee for ensuring implementation of security arrangements during Muharram. The first meeting of the cabinet committee will be held on December 8 while it will meet daily from December 15. He also issued instructions for setting up committees headed by ministers at divisional level and the committee constituted for monitoring security arrangements at district level to start undertaking visits from tomorrow.
He was addressing a meeting to review security arrangements for Muharram at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here on Monday. The Chief Minister said that Pakistan is passing through a critical phase of its history and the enemies are bent upon weakening its foundations. He said that maintenance of a peaceful atmosphere during Muharram this year is not less than a challenge and all out resources will have to be utilised for foiling the nefarious designs of anti-Pakistan elements.
He said that no untoward incident took place last year due to effective security arrangements and the same strategy should be adopted this year even more effectively. He said that there is a need for putting up best efforts and displaying wisdom and sagacity for maintaining law and order situation during Muharram and every effort, which is humanly possible should be made for this purpose. He said that the sacrifices of the martyrs in the war against terrorism will not go in vain and situation will soon become normal.
He said that no amount of condemnation is enough to deplore the recent tragic incidents of terrorism. He said that the whole nation salutes the families of Shuhada who embraced martyrdom in the war on terror on their courage and equanimity. He said that there is a need for rising above personal differences and forging unity in the interest of survival of the country.
The Chief Minister further said that the cabinet committee led by Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa will start functioning regularly from December 15 and will also be able to use his aircraft and helicopter for monitoring security arrangements in the province. He also issued instructions to the cabinet committee to constitute sub-committees, which will perform different tasks regarding law and order situation and submit their reports to the committee.
He directed that an effective system should be evolved for the monitoring of the committees operating in different districts and it should be ensured that the members of these committees should remain present in their respective areas. He said that the elements involved in wall-chalking and preparation and distribution of provocative material should not be spared while stern action should be taken against those selling CDs and videos containing such material.
He further directed that Amplifier Act should be strictly enforced during Muharram. He said that all agencies should ensure mutual co-ordination and flag marches should also be conducted in all district headquarters on the pattern of last year. He said that the role of Ulema in maintaining religious harmony and brotherhood during Muharram is of key importance and he will soon meet Ulema of different schools of thoughts. He made an appeal to people to keep a watchful eye on suspicious elements during Muharram and inform the local police about such persons.
The participants of the meeting also gave their proposals regarding maintenance of law and order during Muharram and the security arrangements made in this regard. Inspector General Police and Home Secretary informed that all administrative and police officers have been issued instructions regarding Muharram and the committees have also started functioning.
Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Minister for Law Rana Sana Ullah Khan, Minister for Auquf Ehsanuddin Qureshi, Chairman Mutehida Ulema Board and Member National Assembly Sahibzada Fazal Kareem, Member Provincial Assembly, Colonel Shuja Khanzada (Retd), Advisor Jahanzaib Burki, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Inspector General Police, Additional IGs CID and Special Branch were present.
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