As many as 71,000 policemen and 8,000 Paramilitary Rangers would be deployed to maintain law and order during the Muharram-ul-Haram across the province including Karachi. This was informed by Inspector General of Police IGP Sindh, Dr Kaleem Imam at a high level meeting assessing law and order and the security situation of the province during Muharram-ul-Haram here on Monday.
Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah on this occasion directed district administration and law enforcement agencies to take strict security measures for implementation of a code of conduct during Muharram to maintain peace and sectarian harmony.
Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Ahmed Shehlwani, Secretary Auqaf and Religions Affairs Haroon Ahmed, Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon and all Deputy Commissioners, DIGs and SSPs of Karachi, and other divisional commissioners and DIGs participated in the meeting via video link.
IG Sindh and Commissioner Karachi briefed the meeting about security arrangements and administrative measures respectively. IG Sindh said there were 2015 Imambargahs in the province, including 342 in Karachi, 590 in Hyderabad, 138 in Mirpurkhas, 107 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 374 in Sukkur and 464 in Larkana divisions.
Sindh government would provide complete security to every Muharram procession by deploying over 71,000 policemen in addition to some 8,000 Rangers across the province.
The commissioner said he held separate meetings with the authorities of KE and Water Board and he had directed them to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and water during the Muharram-ul-Haram. All divisional Commissioner and DIGs also informed the meeting about the arrangements being made for Muharram-ul-Haram.
The Chief Secretary directed the Divisional Commissioners to ensure repair/patch work of roads, where necessary, lifting of debris, solid waste and removal of other obstructions from areas which have been designated as routes of procession and Majalis.
The CS also directed the divisional commissioner and Deputy Commissioners to establish control rooms by deputing focal persons of all civic agencies including KE, KW&SB, WASA, HESCO, SEPCO, SSWMB and health department GoS.