RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Over 6300 cops will guard 65 mourning processions and 113 Majalis of Ashura as the district police have finalized all security arrangements.
79 processions and 206 Majalis will also be held on 9th Muharram ul Haram in the district which will be provided security cover by over 5000 cops.
The contingents of Army and Rangers will also be deployed in the city besides police personnel to make security arrangements foolproof during Ashura.
Six main processions of Zuljanah, Alam and Tazia will be taken out on Ashura from different areas of the city. All processions will culminate at 10 pm at Imambargah Kadimi in Mohalla Imambara.
According to City Police Officer, (CPO) Rawalpindi, Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi, the police have finalized elaborate security arrangements for peaceful passage of Ashura.
According to the security plan formulated in this regard, aerial surveillance of Ashura processions will be conducted to ensure security of the mourners.
City district government has banned pillion riding in the city to ensure foolproof security at processions and congregations.
Additional force of Special Branch Police, Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary, women police along with district police would be deployed to ensure security especially on 10th Muharram.
Strict checking of vehicles is being conducted at entry and exit points of the city. There would be strict monitoring of all the processions while Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have also been installed to ensure security. Parking of vehicles will not be allowed 200 yards from Imambargahs.
No one would be allowed to stand on rooftops of the commercial and residential buildings located along the main routes of the mourning processions while armed police personnel would be deployed on the rooftops of the buildings.
Special checking of Ashura processions routes would be carried out before start of the processions and bomb disposal squad will clear the routes. The mourners will be checked with metal detectors and walk through gates would be installed at the entry points of the processions.
The route of the main procession of Ashura would be sealed completely and streets on the route will be barricaded. Vehicles and motorcycles will not be allowed to move with the mourning processions.
Source: APP
