Youm-e-Ali: Pillion riding banned in Lahore for two days, Karachi tightens security

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Sunday issued a notification imposing a ban on pillion riding in Lahore for two days on Sunday and Monday (May 26 and May 27) on the occasion of Youm-e-Ali.

According to a notification, issued on the request of Deputy Commissioner Lahore, the provincial government has imposed the ban under Section 144(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

The ban will not be applicable on women, children under 12, senior citizens, journalists, personnel of law enforcement agencies, security agencies in uniform and employees of essential services.

Youm-e-Ali, observed on the 21st of Ramzan, sees large processions across the country commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA).

Four-layer security will be provided by utilising all available resources for arrangements of mourning processions and Majalis.

No mourners will be allowed to enter procession before checking by walk-through gates and metal detectors. Snipers will be deployed on ways of the procession with commandos will be deployed on routes of processions.

More than 39,255 officials and volunteers will perform security on Yum-e-Ali (RA) across Punjab.

Karachi

On Saturday, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Ali Shallwani reviewed the security arrangements in the metropolis ahead of the Youm-e-Ali procession.

Security has been tightened across the city ahead of the 21st Ramzan procession which will be taken out Nishtar Park and will reach its traditional destination via New Preedy Street due to development work presently underway on a major portion of MA Jinnah Road.

According to a Rangers representative, foolproof security will be provided to the participants of the procession.

Commissioner Shallwani also urged all concerned officials to maintain close liaison with the organisers and provide every possible assistance ensuring that bottlenecks are readily resolved.

On Friday, roadblocks and containers were set up on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, Empress Market, Saddar and Preedy Street ahead of the Youm-e-Ali procession.

Multan

Nearly 1,713 officials will be deployed across Multan for Youm-e-Ali around the city including one SSP, three SPs, 14 DSOs, 22 inspectors, 286 SI and ASI, 1,342 constables and 45 lady constables for security duty.

Sukkur

Sukkur Commissioner Sukkur Rafique Ahmed Buriro has ensured of foolproof security in the city and has directed special security measures at all mosques and Imam Bargah along with sufficient number of police personnel to ward off any untoward incident.

He also directed officials to keep a vigilant eye on suspicious elements and to make necessary arrangements for generators, streetlights and sanitation on the procession routes.