MUZAFFARGARH: The police conducted a stop and search operations in Muzaffargarh and Layyah districts on Sunday and it would continue till Muharram 10 to ensure the safety and protection of the public.

More than 60 processions were declared sensitive here in Muzaffargarh on Muharram 9 and 30 processions on Muharram 10. Army and rangers personnel have been deployed here in Muzaffargarh.

On Muharram 9 and 10, there will be 400 processions to be manned by 2,300 police officials and more than 800 volunteers. Army troops and rangers personnel will patrol the routes. Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qamar said that 119 people had licenses for taazia processions.

District Peace Committee members alleged that the routes were not cleared because of encroachment but the DC refuted their statements.

CCTV cameras are also being installed along the routes of sensitive processions. Layyah DC Imtiaz Ahmad Khichi visited the procession routes and said he was satisfied with arrangements.

Layyah DPO Nida Umer Chattah visited majalis and said that strict security arrangements had been made in imambargahs.

DC Khichi said his committee workers were busy removing encroachments on a daily basis.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Ali Afzal Sahi said the Punjab government has taken extraordinary security measures to maintain peace on Ashur day and all the administrative machinery, including provincial ministers, have been mobilised to implement them in an effective manner.

At a meeting with the district and administration and the members of the District Peace Committee on Sunday, he stressed the deployment of additional staff at sensitive processions and said that senior officers of the district administration and police should remain in the field and keep a close eye on all issues.

The provincial minister said that he would monitor the Muharram arrangements till Ashur day.

Minister for Mines and Minerals Latif Nazar said Islam gives a message of brotherhood and unity.

Deputy Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh said 1,281 processions and 444 majalis are taking place during Muharram. CPO Malik Umar Saeed briefed the meeting on security arrangements, while Divisional Commissioner Zahid Hussain and RPO Moen Masood also spoke. Parliamentarians Firdous Rai and Haqooq Gill also spoke.

NAROWAL: The Sialkot police conducted a flag march from Police Lines and after passing through Khawaja Safdar Road, Cantt Road, Circular Road, Hajipura Road, Defense Road, Sublime Chowk, Muradpur, Kashmir, it culminated at Police Lines. Similar marches were also conducted in Sambarial, Pasrur and Daska.

DPO Syed Zeeshan Raza said that the purpose of the flag march was to raise the sense of security among the citizens and to discourage the evil elements.

He said that the establishment of law and order is the first priority of the police. He said the police will use all resources to maintain law and order in any case.

He said that during Muharram, imambargahs, majalis and mourning processions will be strictly monitored. He said that additional personnel were being deployed.

The DPO said that the Sialkot police were always ready to deal with situations. He said that people should cooperate with the police, keep an eye out for miscreants and report any suspicious activity to the police.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2022