Ulema demanded of the government to monitor Muharram processions through Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, saying that they are receiving threats of attacks on the mourning processions from the terrorists. Allama Abbas Kamaili made the demand during a high level meeting held at Civic Centre to review arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram.
The meeting was chaired by Provincial Minister for Information Technology, Raza Haroon, while Minister for Auqaf Abdul Haseeb and others attended the meeting. Allama Kamaili demanded the government to take notice of the threats that mourning processions would be attacked.
He demanded that the processions should be monitored through CCTV cameras and stringent security measures be taken. He said that last year's attack on Ashora procession should not be taken as "closed chapter," instead the perpetrators should be brought to justice.
He also demanded that from Maghrib to 02:00 am no electricity load shedding be carried out during Muharram. Director Distribution, Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), Zaheer Rizvi, who attended the meeting, assured that there will be no load shedding in Imambargahs and Majalis till 10th of Muharram.
Speaking on this occasion, Raza Haroon said that the city government and town administrations would work together with the same spirit during Muharram-ul-Haram as demonstrated during Eid-ul-Azha. He asked town administrations to take measures for cleanliness at the routes of Muharram processions within their jurisdiction while repairing of street lights and carpeting of roads should also be completed before Muharram.
He added that representatives of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) would continue to play their role for maintaining peace and harmony during Muharram. Abdul Haseeb Khan said that the repairing work of water and sewerage lines, roads and street lights should be done on preferential basis before Muharram-ul-Haram.
The meeting decided to set up an special cell by City District Government Karachi (CDGK) for the arrangements of Muharram-ul-Haram and Executive District Officer (EDO), Municipal Services, CDGK, Masood Alam, was appointed as focal person in this regard. It was also decided that town administrations would also hold such meetings at town level to review arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram in their areas. The meeting was attended by various Ulema, EDO Municipal Services Masood Alam, representatives of Police, Rangers, City Government, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Town Administrators.