LAHORE, Nov 16: Punjab police have recommended a ban on entry of as many as 929 clerics into the province to avoid sectarian tension during Muharram, whereas 439 other religious scholars have been barred from making public speeches, it is learnt. A senior police official told Dawn requesting anonymity the initiative was part of stringent security arrangements made by police keeping in view Muharram related intelligence reports.

He said the Punjab police had sent names and particulars of these 929 religious scholars belonging to various sects to the provincial government as they had been involved in fanning sectarian hatred and delivering provocative speeches.

After slapping of the ban, these scholars would not be allowed to enter any district of the province during Muharram. He said the ban was expected to be approved within a couple of days.

The official said the police had also barred 439 religious leaders from delivering speeches.

He further said as many as 19 districts, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Multan, Sargodha, DG Khan etc. had been declared ‘highly sensitive’ by the police during Muharram.

The official said some 118,308 officials had been deployed throughout the province for security of 9,136 Muharram processions, including 78,930 of Punjab police, 8,780 of elite force and 17,808 of Punjab Qaumi Razaqar (PQR).

In addition to that, the official said, some 69 contingents of army and 35 of rangers would be ‘on call’ to meet any emergency situation.

District police officers (DPOs) have been empowered to call army and rangers in case of any law and order threat in their respective jurisdictions.

About the ban on provocative speeches, he said the police had decided to arrest those violating the curb and keep them in the jails situated in far-flung areas of the province. Strict instructions have been forwarded to all the RPOs and DPOs to ensure this part of the security arrangements, he added.

“The video coverage and still photographs have been declared compulsory for close monitoring of all Muharram gatherings of women in Punjab”, the police official added. — Staff Reporter