KP CM reviews security plan for Muharram

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: A high level meeting to review the arrangements for the holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram was held here on Thursday with the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair.

The meeting took a detailed review of the security plan and other arrangements in order to maintain law and order during the month of Muharram. Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Abid Majeed, Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, administrative secretaries of concerned departments and other relevant high ups attended the meeting. Divisional commissioners, Regional Police Officers, Deputy Commissioners and District Police Officers also attended the meeting via video link.

While briefing the participants on the security plan and other arrangements for the month of Muharram, it was informed that Muharram processions and gatherings would be carried out in 14 districts of the province out of which, eight districts have been reported as the most sensitive and other six as sensitive in terms of law and order and security arrangements, adding that about 40 thousand security personnel would be deployed during the month of Muharram, whereas special contingents of FC and Pak Army would also be deployed for the security of Muharram processions and gatherings.

An integrated strategy in consultation with the all the stakeholders has been devised to effectively monitor the processions and gatherings. “A central control room comprising representatives from all relevant departments and law enforcing agencies is also being set up at the Home department for the purpose” the authorities told and added that special arrangements have been made for the security of sensitive districts and spots across the province. Processions and public gatherings would be monitored directly through CCTV cameras whereas display of arms, pillion riding and hateful wall chalking have also been banned.

The participants were further informed that special initiatives have been proposed to constantly monitor social media pages in order to control spreading of hateful contents and negative propaganda during the month of Muharram. Similarly, mobile phones services in the sensitive districts would be suspended.

Apart from this, staff of health and rescue departments would be assigned with special duties with the purpose to effectively deal with any untoward situation during the month of Muharram.

Addressing the participants, the Chief Minister said that maintaining law and order during the holy month of Muharram is the top most priority of the government, and that’s why, he directed that special attention must be given to the sensitive districts across the province so as to avoid any kind of unrest and untoward situation in the province. He has directed the concerned quarters to release the financial resources required for the security purpose on the first priority.

Moreover, he directed that religious leaders of different sects and elected public representatives should be approached as an effort to promote religious harmony and tolerance during Muharram. Similarly, keeping in view the intense heat wave in the province, the Chief Minister directed to install tents at suitable places in the routes of processions, further directing them to take the PESCO and TESCO authorities on board in order to ensure un-interrupted supply of electricity to the routes and places of processions and public gatherings (Majalis).

The Chief Minister further directed them to have an effective mechanism of coordination amongst all the relevant departments and agencies at provincial, decisional and district levels, adding that the proposed security plan should be implemented in its letter and spirit.

“Maintaining law and order during the month of Muharram should be the top most priority of all the stakeholders”, he said and added that all relevant authorities, departments and agencies would have to fulfill their respective responsibilities well in time for this purpose. Ali Amin Khan Gandapur also appealed to religious leaders as well as general public to play their proactive role in maintaining law and order and promoting sectarian harmony during the month of Muharram.