Potential attacks during Muharram

Security on high alert in capital

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: A red alert has been issued for the federal capital following reports of potential terrorist attacks on Imambargahs during Muharram.

Personnel of the Pakistan Rangers, Islamabad Traffic Police, Police Commandoes, Rescue 15, police and patrolling police have been put on high alert with an objective to maintain peace and tranquillity in the city during Muharramul Haram.

Heads of all police stations have also been directed to maintain high vigilance in their respective areas. Workshops, market, under-construction buildings and residential areas are also being searched.

Following directives from Inspector General IG) Sikandar Hayat, the Islamabad senior superintendent of police (SSP) reviewed the security plan and issued directions to further improve it. He directed all police officials to ensure effective security at the entry as well as exit points of the city and conduct search operations in Afghan colonies, slums and areas around bus stands.

SSP Dr Rizwan asked the police to prevent entry of irrelevant persons, cars or motorbikes within the 200-yard radius of Muharram gatherings. An official of the capital police said there were also instructions from the high command to curb wall-chalking and pasting of posters that area offensive to different sects.

He also directed the police to keep a vigilant eye on the movement of 23 religious clerics of the federal capital who are listed in Schedule 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Among the 23 clerics, 19 belonged to banned groups likes Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and Tehrik-e-Jafaria. They have been required to report their presence in the city to the police every week.

Besides that, police officials deployed on different checkposts in the federal capital have been instructed to halt the entrance of preachers who are not well-known, and that in case of failure to follow these directives, strict action would be taken against the officials responsible.

"We have been warned by high ups in the police department to stop the entry of unwanted preachers at the city's entry checkpoints," a senior police officer told Daily Times.

Similarly, the capital police have also set up a control room at the SSP's office to monitor the processions.

Police have also been directed to provide staff and necessary equipment to the control room, which would work round the clock to ensure effective coordination among all police wings.

The SSP also ordered the juniors to maintain close liaison with the traffic police to avoid any inconvenience to road users. He said that walkthrough gates must be installed at all the entry and exit points of majalis and processions.

It has been learned that 909 majalis and 177 Muharram processions – 159 on the traditional and 18 on newly 'licensed' routes – are planned during the month.

Moreover, all station house officers (SHOs) have been asked to get the complete bio data of volunteers performing security duties at the processions and other religious gatherings. Orignal Source