Ashura Muharram-ul-Haram: IG Punjab Abdul Kareem Chaired Important Meeting, Orders High Security Alert Across the Province.
Any attempt to incite sectarianism, religious hatred or disturb law and order will be foiled; no compromise will be made on the security of majalis, processions and mourners: IG Punjab Abdul Kareem
Strict security for 3,963 majalis and 1,362 mourning processions on 08 Muharram-ul-Haram; more than 60,000 officers and personnel performed duties.
Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Kareem chaired an important meeting regarding security arrangements for Ashura Muharram-ul-Haram at the Central Police Office. The meeting reviewed in detail the security arrangements for majalis and mourning processions to be held during Ashura. Additional IG Operations Punjab Muhammad Ali Nekokara briefed the participants on the province-wide security plan, arrangements and field preparedness. IG Punjab Abdul Kareem directed that security be kept on high alert across the province, including Lahore, on the occasion of Ashura Muharram-ul-Haram, and that strict implementation of Section 144, the code of conduct and SOPs be ensured. He said that all arrangements should be completed in a timely manner through close consultation with the organisers of mourning processions and majalis, religious scholars and other stakeholders. IG Punjab directed that any attempt by anti-peace elements to create sectarianism, religious hatred or disturb the law and order situation should be foiled. He said that senior police officers should personally review procession routes, imambargahs, security and traffic arrangements, while encroachments should be removed and road repairs, street lights and other necessary arrangements should be completed in time with the cooperation of the district administration.
He said that RPOs, CPOs and DPOs should remain in constant contact with peace committees, religious scholars from all schools of thought, and the organisers of majalis and processions, and effective measures should be taken to promote inter-sect harmony so that all issues may be resolved in advance and a peaceful environment ensured. IG Punjab further directed that additional personnel be deployed at sensitive locations during Ashura Muharram-ul-Haram, while the effective use of CCTV cameras, metal detectors and walk-through gates be ensured. He said that CTD, Special Branch, Traffic Police, Dolphin Squad, PRU Force and other field formations should perform their responsibilities in a proactive manner. Directions were also issued to further strengthen cyber patrolling and monitoring to curb sectarian material, religious hatred and incitement on social media. IG Punjab emphasized that in Lahore as well as all other districts, processions and majalis would be allowed only on designated routes and at designated venues, while strict implementation of the Loudspeaker Act would be ensured.
IG Punjab Abdul Kareem directed that all RPOs and DPOs should remain present in the field and personally supervise the security arrangements for processions and majalis. He emphasised that the police force should remain on high alert and that no compromise should be made on the security of majalis, processions and mourners. He further directed that moment-to-moment monitoring of the security arrangements for majalis and processions be ensured through control rooms and CCTV cameras so that the law and order situation remains stable and complete protection can be provided to the mourners. IG Punjab also directed that Muharram control rooms in all districts be kept fully functional and remain in round-the-clock contact with the Central Police Office’s main control room. The meeting was attended via video link by the CCPO Lahore, Additional IG South Punjab, Additional IG Special Branch, Additional IG CTD, Additional IG Elite, Commandant PC, Additional IG RMP, MD Safe Cities, and all RPOs, CPOs and DPOs, while DIG Traffic, DIG PHP, AIG Operations, AIG Procurement, AIG Logistics, AIG R&D, AIG IT and AIG Discipline were also present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, on the directions of IG Punjab Abdul Kareem, Punjab Police remained on high alert across Punjab, including Lahore, on the occasion of 08 Muharram-ul-Haram, and the strictest security arrangements were ensured for mourning processions and majalis. Effective implementation of a comprehensive security plan is underway to maintain law and order across the province. Punjab Police spokesperson said that on the occasion of 08 Muharram-ul-Haram, 3,963 majalis were held across the province, while 1,362 mourning processions were taken out. More than 60,000 police officers and personnel performed duties for the security of these religious gatherings. More than 35,000 officers and personnel were deployed for the security of 3,963 majalis held across the province, while more than 25,000 police officers and personnel were assigned to the security of 1,362 mourning processions. Punjab Police spokesperson further said that in the provincial capital Lahore, 87 mourning processions were taken out while 425 majalis were held. Traffic Police, CTD, Special Branch and other field formations also remained deployed on security duty, while more than 28,000 community volunteers also assisted in the security of majalis and processions.
Handout No. 378)
Syed Mubasher Hussain
Director Public Relations
Punjab Police
***************************
