Ashura observed amid tight security across South Punjab

MULTAN: Ashura was observed amid tight security across South Punjab on Wednesday.The mourners peacefully participated in all processions and Majalis. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat reviewed Ashura security at Chowk Ghanta Ghar. Commissioner Maryam Khan and RPO Sohail Chaudhry were also present.

Talking to journalists, the minister said that the Punjab government was following a zero-tolerance policy to establish law and order. Extremism had been rejected by every class, he told. The minister said that administration and police had made exemplary arrangements during Muharram in the Multan Division. Commissioner Maryam Khan said that 224 Majlis were held and 283 processions were taken out across the division on Ashura. Red alert had been issued for sensitive processions and gatherings, she added.

RPO Sohail Chaudhry said that more than 10,000 police personnel were on security duty in the division. He told that 180 CCTV cameras had been installed at all central locations of the city. Deputy Commissioner Hamid Sindhu said that representatives of all departments were present in the control room and strict monitoring was done from the central control room established at the DC Office. The DC said that 116 processions and 130 Majalis were held on Ashura in Multan. CPO Sadiq Ali said that quick response police personnel remained active at all places to maintain law and order in Multan.

Assistant Commissioner City Simal Mushtaq and SP Operations Muhammad Arslan gave a briefing on Ashura security.Meanwhile, South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Fuad Hashim Rabbani and South Punjab Additional IG Police Muhammad Kamran Khan conducted inspections of security arrangements across South Punjab on Ashura. They monitored procession routes via live streaming from the DC office in Multan and met with Peace Committee members and Ulema.

The ACS said that Ashura processions in South Punjab had concluded peacefully. He expressed gratitude to the administration and police for their exemplary arrangements.Muhammad Kamran Khan praised the police officers for their diligent performance in hot weather emphasising that the security plans for all Majalis and processions were being fully implemented.