As many as 12 districts in Punjab have declared 'most sensitive' on the 10th of Muharram and arrangements have been made to ensure security arrangements through a central control room. The 12 most sensitive districts of Punjab include Lahore, Rawalpindi, Jhang, Rahimyar Khan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Bhakkar, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar, Chakwal and Pakpattan.
In Lahore, the central Zuljinnah and mourning procession would be taken out from Nisar Haveli in the intermittent night of 9th and 10th of Muharram and would be culminated at the Karbla Ghamay Shah on the Saturday evening. Inspector General Police (IGP) Mushtaq Sukhera would personally oversee the security arrangements from a central control room. The government has also announced shutting down cellular services across the province on the day of Ashura, October 24, from 8am onwards. A ban on pillion riding is already in place for both days.
Meanwhile, the arrangements have also been made to suspend cellular services on the requirement of local RPOs and DPOs in case they find it appropriate in the areas considered flashpoints all across the province. The district administration has also placed containers in different sensitive areas of the city to block the access to the roads leading to the main procession of Zuljinnah. Also, the administration has installed hundreds of close circuit TV cameras along the route of the mourning procession.
The Lahore police have issued sketch of a terrorist who might attack Muharram processions in the city. The sketch was also released on media for general public with instructions of contacting police and law enforcement agencies upon receiving information or watching the man in question.