50,000 cops to be deployed across Sindh

CM briefed on measures in meeting with religious scholars, security high-ups; urges
all leaders to promote sectarian harmony

Karachi

A total of 50,000 policemen would be deployed all over Sindh for security of Rabi-ul-Awwal rallies and a special three-layer plan has been formulated to ensure optimum coverage, it was decided at a meeting held at the CM House on Sunday.

As per a statement issued after Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah's meeting with ulemas of various sects and security high-ups, the CM has directed the police department to make all possible efforts to maintain peace in the province during the holy month. 

He also directed the authorities concerned to ensure uninterrupted power supply after sunset during the first two weeks of the holy month.

Those who attended the meeting include Special Assistant to CM on Religious Affairs Dr Qayoom Soomro, Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali, Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui, Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher, chief Minister's special assistants Rashid Rabbbani and Waqar Mehdi along with religious scholars, including Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Haji Haneef Tayab, Yahoob Attari, Mohammad Saleem Qadrim, Atif Hanif Billo, Qazi Ahmed Noorani and Allama Ziauddin Qadri.

The ulemas asked the chief minister to provide special security for the rallies and also sought his permission for the use of loud speaker in gatherings and rallies, which was approved by the chief minister on a condition that loudspeakers would only be used for Naat Khwani.

They also complained about power cuts during Rabi-ul-Awwal and untidy thoroughfares and streets from where the processions had to pass.

Thanking the Ulemas for their cooperation with the government and assurance of acting in accordance with the code of conduct, Dr Qayoom Soomro said that he had set up “peace committees” all over the province to ensure peace and harmony among all sections of society.

Shoaib Siddiqui told the chief minister that he had also held a number of meetings with Ulemas so that the holy month could be celebrated with traditional fervour.

“The complaints of Ulemas regarding security, cleanliness and load-shedding would be resolved very soon as we are taking necessary measures to curb the problems,” he said.

IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali said that in consultation with Ulemas concerned, he had envisaged a security plan for the 12th Rabi-ul-Awal.

"We are going to deploy 50,000 policemen all over Sindh for the security of Rabi-ul-Awal rallies and there would be three layers of security around the rallies," he said and added that a large number of policemen would also be deployed in civil dress to keep a close eye on every movement.

The IGP also said that he would be holding some more meetings with Ulemas for the security and coordination purposes. The chief minister said that police and Rangers had jointly struggled and rendered sacrifices for restoration of peace in the city.

He directed the city commissioner to ask the K-Electric authorities to exempt at least 250 feeders from loadshedding for the first 12 days of Rabi-ul-Awwal.

“This country, province and the city belong to us. It is our responsibility to forge unity against terrorists, respect each others' sentiments, and promote religious harmony and brotherhood irrespective of cast, creed and other identifications,” he said.