Tight security arrangement during Muharram

Mandi Bahauddin (Sher Gondal) : Punjab Minister for women empowerment Hameeda Waheed accompanied by DCO Muzaffar Sial, DPO Omer Salamat, Assistant Commissioner Shabbir Cheema and Traders Association President Asad Idrees toured the city and reviewed security arrangement made for Muharram.

The DCO while briefing the Minister said this time adequate arrangements had been made for security of mourning congregations and guarding processions routes to avoid any untoward incident.

Besides, he said he held meetings with peace committee’s members’ religious leaders of all schools of thoughts of the district and they assured him to maintain harmony and avoid inflammatory speeches. Organizers of events are in touch with him and they have been asked to call for help when ever they need.  Pillion riding has been banned and section 144 imposed, he added.

GEPCO will not conduct power load shedding on 9 and 10 Muharram. Meanwhile city has been cleaned and swept. Hand carts and different stalls had been removed on processions routes to facilitate participants of mourning processions.

Regarding security and traffic plans, the DPO told all available police resources and manpower was being used to ensure tight security arrangements on the occasion. He said CCTV cameras had been installed along processions routes and at congregations’ places across the district.

1365 police personnel including DSPs had been deployed for exercising vigilance and dealing with any emergent situation. Walkthrough gates had also been installed at Imambargahs. He said police force in cooperation with volunteers, Ulmas and organizers of mourning processions and gatherings would do its best to maintain peace and tranquility during celebrations of Ashura.

He said police had already organized flag march at Mandi, Phalia and Malakwal to show agility and readiness of police as warning to any terrorist’s threat.

The Minister expressed satisfaction over security arrangements. She said it was responsibility of every citizen to play its role to maintain peace in the district and in the country and urged people to keep vigil on mischievous elements to thwart any ugly situation in advance.