Security beefed up in Rawalpindi for Muharram

Rawalpindi
In the light of security warnings in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the local administration has demanded 16 army companies and 10 of rangers to control 726 'Zuljinnah' and 'Taazia' processions for first 10 days of Muharram, said Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Captain (r) Zahid Saeed while briefing journalists here on Wednesday.
There is fear that terrorists might attack processions or ‘majalis’ during Muharram in retaliation to the operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’. Nobody would be allowed to serve ‘langar’ or ‘niaz’ without prior permission,” the commissioner warned.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Fakhar Sultan was also present on the occasion.
The commissioner said that they have finalised all necessary arrangements for Muharram.
He said that a total of 726 processions, including 120 licensed and 606 traditional, will be taken out in Rawalpindi district from Muharram 1 to 10. In total, 316 processions, including 46 licensed and 270 traditional, would be taken out in Rawalpindi city during first 10 days of Muharram, he said.
"This time around, we have decided that ‘zakirs’ outside Punjab would not be allowed to enter Rawalpindi. In the past, people could bring ‘zakirs’ from other provinces but this year we have taken a major decision that ‘zakirs’ from outside Punjab would not be allowed to enter Rawalpindi. Strict action will be taken against those people who would invite people ‘zakirs’ from other provinces," he warned.
He said that they have banned entry of 190 ‘ulemas’ and ‘zakirs’ in Rawalpindi belonging to different schools of religious thought because they deliver hate speeches. If ‘ulemas’ and ‘zakirs’ enter Rawalpindi even after the ban they would face strict legal action, he warned.
He said that there would be zero tolerance to show of arms, wall-chalking, hate material and there would be complete ban on objectionable speeches and unnecessary use of loudspeakers.
“We would install 350 CCTV cameras, 45 walkthrough gates and 4 jammers. We would also arrange 6 sniffer dogs to check suspected persons," he said. "We would take strict action against controversial speeches. There would be no car parking in and around procession routes while their timings would be strictly observed,” he said.
He said that all processions must conclude after ‘Maghrib’ prayers and he has ordered full lighting system on all procession routes.
He said that main processions would appear from Sadiqabad to Qadeemi Imambargah, City to Qadeemi Imambargah, RA Bazaar to Imambargah Qasr-e-Sajjad, City to Imambargah Kamalpur Syedan.
He said that there are a total 493 seminaries in the Rawalpindi district and "we would deploy heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies around them to avoid any untoward incident." “Nobody would be allowed to stand on the rooftops on procession routes,” he warned.
He said that ‘Zuljinah’, ‘Alam’ and ‘Taazia’ processions will be taken out from different parts of the city and culminate at Imambargah Qadeemi in Mohallah Imambarah.
As many as 7,000 security personnel will be deployed to secure processions and ‘majalis’ and maintain law and order in the district. Moreover, sixteen companies of Pakistan Army, 10 companies of Rangers and 40 platoons of the Punjab Constabulary will be deployed in the district. Aerial surveillance of processions will also be carried out.
The district administration has also banned pillion-riding in the city for security reasons. Additional force of Special Branch Police, Elite Force, Constabulary, Women's Police and Rangers along with district police will be deployed to ensure security of the mourning processions. Police will also be checking vehicles at entry and exit points of the city.
The local administration has set up control rooms at divisional, district and tehsil level to monitor the situation.
The traffic police have banned parking along the procession routes and near ‘imambargahs’. Traffic wardens will ensure a distance of at least 200 yards between parking and gatherings.
The authorities have also asked the residents to not stand on the rooftops of buildings along the procession route as security personnel will be deputed on rooftops. The police and bomb disposal squad will carry out special checking of the procession route before the start of the processions.
The mourners will be checked with metal detectors and walkthrough gates would be installed at the entry points. The route of the main procession will be completely sealed and streets along the routes would be barricaded. Police have also prohibited vehicles and motorcycles to move with the mourning processions.