Over 20,000 policemen and 4000 Rangers have been deployed in the city for Ashura processions and congregations after LEAs warning of possible terror attacks. During first 10 days of Moharram every year around 1196 processions are taken out in the city. LEAs pointed out 448 processions and 210 Imambargahs as sensitive during the two days of Ashura this year.
To curb the possible terror strikes more than 20000 policemen along with 4000 Rangers have been deployed in the city while 5700 Regular Police and 1000 personnel of Special Protection Group (SPG) have been posted at M A Jinnah Road. More than 50 CCTVs have been installed at M A Jinnah Road and three jammers are moving along to monitor main processions during Ashura. Around 3000 Scouts have also been deputed at the central procession.
M A Jinnah Road has been sealed and all the markets and shops would remain closed for three days. Almost all the roads leading to M A Jinnah Road have been closed by placing containers, buses and other hurdles. Special stickers have been issued to 130 vehicles of Rangers, 290 vehicles of police and 65 vehicles of ambulance services.
Police have also formed three teams deployed at different base camps for M A Jinnah Road procession to meet any untoward incident while Superintendent of Police (SP) has been appointed as the head of each team. Team A would cover Crime Spot, Team B would control enraged people besides detentions while Team C would perform rescue work. Police personnel in plain clothes have also been deployed.
Aerial surveillance of the processions and sharp shooters of Rangers and Police have also been deployed on roof-tops of the buildings along the routes of main procession while parking of vehicles will only be allowed at reasonable distance from the place of congregations. The bomb disposal squad will move along the processions and clear the routes. Another team of bomb disposal squad will be moving at the tail of the procession.