Punjab government has requested deployment of Pakistan Army and Rangers in 24 sensitive districts of the province during Muharram-ul-Harram. In this regard, the Home Department of Punjab has sent a letter to Interior Ministry seeking its help in deploying Pakistan Army and Rangers in sensitive districts of the province to maintain law and order during Muharram, sources in Interior Ministry revealed to Business Recorder on Wednesday.
The Interior Ministry has received the letter and final decision will be made after consultation with representatives of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Rangers and other law enforcement agencies, sources said. They said that in its letter Punjab government has demanded deployment of 78 Companies of Pakistan Army and 17 companies of Pakistan Rangers in the sensitive districts of the province, sources said.
It requested the deployment of Army and Rangers in Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sheikhupora and Nankana on Muharram 7, while Army and Rangers should be kept on high alert in Chiniot, Jhang, Khanewal, Multan, Toba Tek Singh, Lodhran and Vehari districts, sources said. There would also be need of forces in the districts of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layeh, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur.