The government on Thursday made foolproof security arrangements including partial suspension of mobile phone services in different areas of federal capital to ensure peace during processions and Majalis on 9th Muharram. The security arrangements were monitored by the Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi himself who also visited control room of Safe City Project and reviewed security arrangements made in connection with Muharram-ul-Haram.
Inspector General of Police Islamabad briefed the minister about the foolproof security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful passage of Ashura. The IGP informed the minister that in the federal capital 2,586 policemen, Pakistan Rangers and Frontier Constabulary men have been deployed to ensure security for 17 processions. The minister directed that the working of safe city project should be further improved with induction of more technical staff.
"No one is above the law," Shehryar Khan Afridi said and directed the IGP to take steps to improve traffic system of Islamabad. The minister also inspected the processions through monitoring system installed in control room. Mobile phone service remained partially suspended in several cities including twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi across the country as well as Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar, on Thursday.
Strict security measures were taken for the processions with contingents of Rangers and Police deployment near main Imambargahs Sector G-6 Islamabad. Pillion riding is also banned till 10th Muharram the route of the Muharram procession, the main Ashura procession was taken out from Sector G-6-II Imambargah. The capital administration has announced that mobile services will remain suspended in Islamabad for 12 hours each on Muharram 9 and 10.
According to a notification issued by the Islamabad district magistrate office, mobile phone services will remain suspended from 9am to 9pm in G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, F-6, F-7, F-11 and I-10. In the past, mobile phone services remained suspended across Islamabad, but during past three years, but now mobile services are only being suspended along the route of the procession, an official of capital administration said.
"The capital administration for the last two years has wanted to avoid the suspension of services and sought recommendations from various authorities and departments in this regard," one of the officials said, adding that this would not be possible for the time being due to the security situation. A contingent of Rangers was also deployed as a quick response force to help police. CCTV cameras have been installed along the route of processions and surveillance will also be conducted via the Safe City Project and an especially set up control room.