Over 12,000 security personnel to guard Muharram gatherings in Islamabad

The city police will deploy over 12,000 security personnel to guard 909 religious gatherings and 177 processions on the occasion of Muharram-ul-Haram in the federal capital. According to a senior official of the police, capital territory police have finalised compressive security arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram and decided to depute over 12,000 security personnel, including 1,500 personnel of Rangers and 500 of Frontier Constabulary, to maintain high vigilance and avert any untoward situation on the occasion.
According to the security plan, the police will launch combings as well as search operations in various slums of the city, including those housing Afghan habitats, to ensure foolproof security, he said. The security plan has been finalised in a meeting presided over by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sajid Kiani, he said.
As per plan, personnel of Rangers and police commandos along with vehicles would perform security duties at Imambargahss arranging Majalis, he said.According to security plan, walkthrough gates must be installed at all entry and exit points of majalis and processions. Heavy contingent of police would be deployed there. The meeting also asked the relevant police officers to stop wall chalking or pasting posters which may hurt sentiments of people in their jurisdiction, he added.
He said that the SSP directed all station house officers (SHOs) to collect complete bio-data of volunteers who will perform security duties on the occasion. "Peace committees would be asked to ensure that no stranger is allowed to stay at the worship places for security reasons during Muharram-ul-Haram," he added. The official said that the SSP issued strict directives to keep a close eye on the people put under surveillance under the Fourth Schedule. The scholars or persons from defunct organisations banned to enter Islamabad would not be allowed to participate in any kind of activity at any cost, the SSP said.
The official said that the SSP asked the relevant police officers to ensure close liaison with peace committees and organisers of majalis and processions. The strict arrangements would be made with respect to checking of participants of majalis and processions through using metal detectors, he added. The SSP directed the station house officers (SHOs) to make appropriate light arrangements after negotiations with relevant authorities and weed out bushes in various areas within vicinity of worship places.
He said that it should be ensured that processions will pass through fixed routes, adding that timings of processions will be observed strictly. He also directed for effective patrolling and using commando vehicles for the purpose. The official said that the SSP Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has also finalised traffic plan in order to ensure smooth traffic flow on the occasion.