PESHAWAR, Pakistan: A comprehensive security plan for peaceful observance of Muhararm in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was approved under which persons trying to enter an Imam Bargah and mourning processions would be checked at three different places besides electronic monitoring of the processions.
The security plan was approved during a high level meeting presided over by IGP KPK Nasir Khan Durrani here at Central Police Office. The District Police Officers briefed IGP with the help of maps and charts about the security plan for Muharram in their respective districts.
Additional IGPs Special Branch Operations and Investigation, DIG CTD, CCPO and RPOs DIKhan, Bannu, Hazara and Mardan attended the meeting.
IGP KP Nasir Khan Durrani has directed police high ups to ensure live electronic monitoring of all processions and adopt three tier checking for entry into every Imambargah and procession.
The IGP was informed that 429 small and big processions will be taken out while 940 Majalis will be held. During the briefing 129 Trouble Spots were identified in the routes of the procession to be taken out from different parts of the province.
Peshawar, Hazara, Kohat and DI Khan were declared most sensitive districts for Muharram. The police chief pointed out that police will perform its duty as a front line force and no loopholes will be allowed in the security arrangements and directed the participants to take effective and fool proof security measures for sectarian harmony and religious brotherhood during Muharram.
The IGP informed for the first time in the history of the province live electronic monitoring will be carried out of all processions for which software has been prepared and installed in all districts of the province.
He directed the officers to supervise the procession through Android System in their districts and make security zones for Imambargahs and precessions and adopt three tier security filter points and frisk every one before entering to any Imam Bargah and procession and keep organizers along with police on these points.
The route and the venue must be cleared by a joint composite team of all concerned departments no eatable or drinks in form of “nazar and niaz” be allowed to be distributed without strict checking and proper lighting arrangement should be made in and around the venue of majalis, he directed.
The IGP categorically made it clear that no innovative methods with respect of processions and routes will be allowed and directed the DPOs to instantly register FIR against the violators.
The DIGs and DPOs were further directed to review the security arrangements themselves by visiting the spot in uniform and organize snap checking across the districts with special emphasis on motorcycles with fake number plates and without number plates.
They were also directed for hot spot policing and deployment on hill tops and roof tops in sensitive areas and plugging of all streets leading to Imam Bargah and procession and carrying out routes sweeping of all the precessions.
They were further directed to carry out checking at macro level and check each and every thing and place, make video recording of all mourning processions, strictly discourage provocative speeches and hatred literature.
Participants were directed to brief the jawan in detail about their duties and motivate them to perform its duty in excellent and professional manner and those not wearing bullet proof jackets and helmets should be dismissed from service instantly and deploy women police for checking of women mourners.
They were also directed to call all the volunteers, get their cell numbers and brief them about their nature of duty. Police high ups were informed to hold meeting with all other concerned civil departments one day before and ensure their part of job done for Muharram.
The participants were directed to ban standing on roof tops of the houses on processions routes. They ware also directed that particulars of all tenants falling on the procession route and in close proximity of route and Imambargahs must be checked and particulars verified, name of the tenants to be recorded and placed in the police station record.
The police chief made it clear that security arrangements adopted for Muharram will be checked through special Branch and in case of any lapses concerned DPOs will be held responsible for it.
Earlier, the IGP was briefed about the security plan adopted for peaceful observance of Muharram in different districts of the province i.e. Peshawar, Kohat, Hangu, DI Khan, Bannu and Haripur. The IGP was informed that Peshawar has 67 Imam Bargahs where total of 121 small and big precessions will be taken out on different days of Muharram.
Similarly DI Khan has 66 thalles (Imam Bargahs) and 174 precessions will be taken out from it. DPO Kohat and DPO Hangu informed that this time in Kohat especially in Hangu Muharram will be tough and challenging however all possible measures are being taken to make this tough job easier.
He further informed that briefing and motivation to the level of constable are being carried out. DIG Hazara and DPO Bannu also spelled out the Muharram security plan being carried out in their respective areas.
APP