RAWALPINDI: Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Thursday said that no negligence will be tolerated regarding the security of mourning processions and cleaning of its route during Muharram.

The deputy commissioner asked to complete all arrangements of Muharram within a week. He said that CCTV cameras should be installed on the routes to monitor all the processions and the presence of focal persons of all departments should be ensured in the central control room.

“The patchwork of procession routes, cleaning of drains should be ensured. A joint team of Municipal Corporation, Iesco and PTCL should be formed to improve the condition of electricity cables, street lights, cable and PTCL wires on the procession routes,” he directed.

He said that walk-through gates should be installed at the entrances of Muharram processions and congregations and fool-proof security arrangements should be made.

He said that the implementation of the code of conduct for Muharramissued by the government should be implemented in every case.

He said the banners and panaflex should be removed immediately, all the arrangements should be finalised in view of the emergency situation in the hospitals.

He said that all staff holidays of allied department should be canceled during Muharram.

He said above average rains have been predicted during the current monsoon. “Wasa will make sure that no water is accumulated in case of rains during 10 days of Muharram,” he said.

He said that our effort was to ensure that the citizens did not have to face any kind of difficulty and trouble in terms of cleanliness during Muharram. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Dr.Hassan Waqar Cheema presided over a meeting of District Peace Committee and Inter-Faith Harmony Committee in Deputy Commissioner Office Rawalpindi.

The meeting was attended by SP Security Raja Nasir Nawaz, District Khatib Iqbal Rizvi, Pir Izhar Bukhari and other members of the District Peace Committee and Inter-Faith Harmony Committee. In the meeting, the members of District Peace Committee and Inter-Faith Harmony Committee presented various suggestions to maintain law and order during Muharram.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner said that Ulemas are advocates of peace.

“The role of religious scholars in maintaining law and order has always been constructive. Be it religious festivals or promotion of religious harmony, religious scholars have played their positive and constructive role,” he said. He paid tribute to the role of the minority community for maintaining peace in the country.

He said that effective security arrangements will be made on the occasion of Muharram.“Effective monitoring of processions through CCTV cameras will be ensured. No one will be allowed to create chaos. The religious scholars of all schools of thought should use collective efforts to maintain peace and order in Muharram,” he said.

During Muharram, he said that a special cell will be set up by the district administration to monitor social media and literature. The organizers of the processions will have to follow the decided time. There should be no lack of communication between members, everyone should work together, he said.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2024