Punjab Cabinet Committee for Law & Order headed by Punjab Minister for Anti Terrorism Colonel Ayub Khan (retd) held here at Circuit House to review the Muharram arrangements in Faisalabad division. Punjab Minister for Sports Jahangir Khanzada, IG Police Cap Arif Nawaz Khan, Additional IG Special Branch Faisal Shahkar and Additional IG CTD Rai Muhammad Tahir were also present.
Addressing the participants, Minister for Anti Terrorism Colonel Ayub Khan (retd) pointed out the important role of Ulema Karam for maintaining religious harmony and peace during Muharram ul Haram and lauded the valuable cooperation of Ulema for making the Muharram Security arrangements. He said that under the directions of CM Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab govt had mobilized all out resources to maintain peaceful atmosphere during Muharram and these arrangements would be made more effective and strengthened by the guidance and proposals of religious leaders.
He urged upon the religious leaders and scholars to forge unity among their ranks and sentiments of brotherhood, fraternity and national solidarity be promoted to foil the nefarious designs of the enemies of the country. He said that Punjab Cabinet Committee was visiting divisional headquarters of the province to sensitize the administration for the affective implementation of Muharram arrangements and also calling on Ulema Karam of all sects for seeking their cooperation and help for peaceful observation of Muharram ul Haram. Ayub Khan said that Islam taught us lesson of peace and love and nobody could jeopardize the peaceful atmosphere due to our unity following the golden principles of Islam. He stressed upon following the code of conduct set by the leading Ulema and religious leaders of all sects unanimously. During the meeting, the members of Divisional Peace Committee Sahibzada Zahid Mehmood Qasmi, Maulana Yousuf Anwar, Faiz Rasool Haider, Mufti Abdul Moeed, Pir Israr Bahar Shah, Syed Masud ul Hassan Tirmizi, Qari Ayub and other assured their full cooperation for maintaining the religious harmony and peace during the Holy month of Muharram.
They said that no one would be allowed to plunder peaceful atmosphere. They presented suggestions for making the Muharram security arrangements more effective and strong. Divisional Commissioner Momin Agha, RPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana, DC Salman Ghani, CPO Afzaal Kausar and other officers informed about the details of the meetings with the peace committees and said that divisional and district administrations had developed close liaison with the Ulema of all sects and some religious issues had also been resolved with their cooperation and help. Meanwhile, the Punjab Cabinet Committee also took briefing about the security plan of the divisional and district administrations of Faisalabad division during the session held at Circuit House. Commissioner Momin Agha and RPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana briefed about the Muharram arrangements. DC Faisalabad Salman Ghani, DC Jhang Mudassar Riaz Malik, DC Chiniot Ayub Khan, Acting DC T.T.Singh Kashaf Muhammad Ali, CPO Afzaal Ahmad Kausar, DPOs, MNA Sheikh Muhammad Akram, MPA Haji Khalid Saeed, Mayor Municipal Corporation Muhammad Razzaq Malik, Chairman Zila Council Jhang Babar Khan Sial, Chairman Municipal Committee Jhang Sheikh Nawaz Akram, SSP Special Branch Iftikhar Ul Haq, SSP CTD Atta ur Rehman and others were also present in the meeting.
During the briefing, it was informed that 1489 processions and 4124 Majalis would be held during the Ashra Muharram and special security arrangements have been made for the protection of these events. The Commissioner said 20 flash points have been identified and special deployment have been arranged to avoid any untoward incident. He informed that the cleanliness of the Muharram procession routes, removal of encroachments, repairing of roads and other necessary measures have been taken in this regard. The control room would also work at divisional, district and tehsil levels for the monitoring of Muharram arrangements. Punjab Minister for Anti Terrorism directed for strict implementation Muharram plan and said that code of conduct should be implemented in full spirit. He said no violation of timing of processions and use of loudspeakers should be reported and directed to make audio/video recording of important processions and Majalis besides activation of CCTV Cameras at all angles. He said peace committees should remain active and religious issues, if any, be solved immediately.
He urged upon associating of Parliamentarians and elected representatives of local bodies with the Muharram arrangements for maintaining religious harmony and brotherhood on grass root level. IG Punjab Cap Arif Nawaz directed the police to complete all security measures according to the check list and four tiers security should be ensured at vulnerable points of Muharram processions. Punjab Minister for Sports Jahangir Khanzada stressed upon mobilizing the security gadgets and said that the Muharram arrangements should be supervised even on union council level.