WEB DESK: To pay homage to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his martyred companions, Ashura Day is being celebrated with religious devotion and respect, mourning gatherings and processions are being held across the country.
Ashura Day processions are being taken out in big and small cities including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi. The processions of Shabiya Zul Jinnah, Taaziya and Alam will pass through traditional routes and end at their respective places.
The federal and provincial governments have made foolproof security arrangements on the occasion of Ashura, thousands of personnel of the police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed, and surveillance is also being carried out with the help of bomb disposal squads, walk-through gates and CCTV cameras.
Security is on high alert in sensitive cities, mobile phone service has been partially suspended in some cities.
OVER 134,000 POLICE PERSONNEL DEPLOYED
Strict security arrangements have been made across Punjab province including Lahore on Ashura Day, keeping rain prediction in view.
More than 134,000 police officers and personnel are performing security duties for processions and gatherings, Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar said.
More than 15,000 officers and personnel are deployed for the security of the main procession and gatherings in Lahore alone.
“Never let the harshness of rain and weather hinder the performance of duties, stay alert,” IG Punjab said, adding, “Ensure checking with CCTV monitoring, walk-through gates, metal dictators.”
Lady police personnel have been deployed for the security and checking of women mourners, while commandos in plain clothes are deployed in the mourning processions, along with snipers on the rooftops on the routes to ensure security.
Special arrangements have been made to maintain traffic flow through alternative routes across the province.
All field formations including Dolphin Squad, PRU, Special Branch and CTD are providing assistance in Muharram security arrangements.
IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar is personally monitoring the Muharram security arrangements moment by moment.
RPOs, CPOs and DPOs, senior police officers are directed to be present in the field to check the security arrangements for processions and gatherings in sensitive districts.
Also read: ‘Pakistanis need Hussaini character to overcome current challenges’