Mardan - The district administration has imposed Section 144 in Mardan district and banned pillion riding and display of arms to maintain law and order during Muharram, an official notification said. 

According to the notification, on the directive of District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Zahidullah Khan, Deputy Commissioner Habibullah Arif imposed section 144 and banned pillion ridding, hate materials, wall chalking, especially sectarian, tented glasses and suspected vehicles, gathering of more than 5 persons, derogatory remarks about other sects, entry of rabble-rouser, aerial firing, display of all kinds of weapons, use of loudspeakers, confining Afghan refugees in their camps, participation of Shia community belonging to other district in processions, delivering speeches by firebrand speakers, standing on roofs top of all building, houses in the surrounding areas of procession routes and Imambargah at Bicket Gunj area, staying of strangers in hotels and houses which falling on processions routes and premises of Imambargah.  

Anyone found violating the order will be punished under section 188 of the PPC. 

Meanwhile, in order to foil any terror bid in the district, police has chalked out a security plan, according to which special duties would be assigned to police personnel to ensure security of processions and Imambargah.  

In this connection a high-level was held at DPO office, a press statement said. According to the statement, RPO Yasin Faroq chaired the meeting. DPO Dr. Zahidullah Khan, police officials, representative of business community, peace committee members and Shia and Sunni leaders and scholars attended the meeting.  

It was decided in the meeting that security will be on high-alert to maintain law and order during Muharram. DPO informed the meeting that more than 1000 police officers and personnel have been deployed across the district for security during Muharram.  

He said that special roadblocks will be set up on various highways and entrances and exits of the district. He said that special duties have been assigned to police while their holidays have been cancelled to perform duties during Muharram.  

All SHO have been directed to perform active duty on city roads checking the vehicles thoroughly and make special focus on the movement of the suspected person in their areas. He said that besides the police, the public should also keep abreast of the situation around them and if notice any suspicious person or activity should immediately report to the police or control room number 0937-9230065.