BAHAWALPUR-A total of 516 processions will be taken out and 1,410 congregations will be held across Bahawalpur Division during Muharram while 50 processions and 62 Majalis have been declared as sensitive.
Entry of 155 scholars has been prohibited while gagging had been imposed on 67 scholars; 14 trouble makers have also been detained. The security threats have increased due to operation Zarb-e-Azb, Regional Police Officer Ashfaq Ahmed Khan said while talking to The Nation.
More than 10,000 policemen and officers have been deployed for the security of processions and Majalis. Bahawalpur District has been declared as sensitive in respect of security as 55 points have been declared as trouble spot, he said.
Foolproof arrangements have been finalised to maintain peace. Nine companies of Pak Army, 11 of Rangers, 70 platoons of Punjab Constabulary and 70 teams of Elite Police Force will remain standby, he said, adding that CCTV cameras and walk-through gates will be set up.
He said that the routes of the processions and points of Majalis will be checked by the sniffer dogs. He said that entrance of irrelevant persons will be strictly prohibited in the processions and Majalis. Sensitive processions and Majalis will be monitored through CCTV cameras and video recording will also be made. He said the public should also remain alert and keep a vigilant eye on suspicion persons.
Bahawalpur DPO Ashfaq Ahmed Khan said that seven Majalis have been declared as sensitive and put in “A” category, 21 processions and 13 Majalis in “B” category while 212 processions and 556 Majalis in “C” category.
Rahim Yar Khan DPO Zeeshan Asghar said that 228 processions will be taken out and 457 Majalis will be held on Ashura in Rahim Yar Khan district.
Bahawalnagar DPO Liaqat Ali said that every possible step will be taken to ensure the law and order. He further said that 38 processions and 377 Majalis will be held in the district; 9 processions and 16 Majalis have been declared as sensitive and put in A Category while 13 processions relate to B Category. He said that more than 3,000 police officers and Jawans had been deployed.
Bahawalpur Division Commissioner Saqib Zafar said that all arrangements have been finalised to extend municipal services and security cover to the mourners in the 3 districts of Bahawalpur Division. He further said that alternative arrangements to supply un-interrupted electricity have also been made.
He maintained that to extend emergency medical aid all medical facilities along-with their ambulances would remain in operation. He further said that 100 beds at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, 50 beds at Shaikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan, 30 beds at all the DHQ hospitals and 10 beds at THQ hospitals have also been reserved. He said that arrangements have also been made to ensure the strict implementation of code of conduct and timely completion of Majalis and processions in the division.
Meanwhile, the exhibition of weapons will be prohibited and opening of shops in- the routes of processions, gathering and watching of the procession from the roofs of houses will also be prohibited. Bahawalpur Waste Management Company Managing Director Naeem said that special arrangements of cleanliness have been made. The company finalised a cleanliness and waste management programme.