Sindh finalises security plan as attacks feared

Karachi
The Sindh government decided on Monday that pillion-riding would be banned in six “sensitive” districts of the province including Karachi on the 8th, 9th and 10th of Muharram.
Besides, the home department will also coordinate with the federal government so that cell phone services could be suspended in these districts on the day of Ashura, the 10th of Muharram.
Besides Karachi, the other districts include Benazirabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, and Shikarpur.
Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, while presiding over a meeting to review the security plan for Muharram, pointed out that banned outfits were emerging with new names and police, Rangers and intelligence agencies must monitor their activities closely during Muharram.
He also noted that as the local government elections were also scheduled to take place, the law enforcement agencies must ensure that these banned outfits were stopped from participating in the polls.
95 ‘sensitive’ locations
During the meeting, Sindh Rangers director general Bilal Akbar said 95 “sensitive” locations in Karachi had been identified after examining the history of Muharram in the city in the last seven years and the paramilitary force had made arrangements to secure these places in coordination with police
He added that Rangers were also conducting a special operation in coordination with police and its counter-terrorism department against banned outfits that would continue till Chehlum.
The Rangers chief said aerial surveillance of mourning processions would be carried out using helicopters. Besides, the paramilitary force will use the surveillance system of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).
He said during the ban on pillion riding, special passes would be issued to media personnel covering of Muharram processions and gatherings.
Women, children and elderly people will be exempted from the ban.
Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad said the divisional administration must hold meetings with the K-Electric o ensure uninterrupted power supply to streetlights.
“We can’t afford the risk of darkness on the streets on the sensitive days of Muharram,” he added.
The chief minister directed the chief secretary to coordinate with Karachi commissioner for this purpose.
Dr Qayoom Soomro, the special assistant to the chief minister on auqaf and religious affairs, said he had held meetings with the scholars of different sects so that the code of conduct prepared in connection with Muharram could be properly implemented.
The chief minister said he had directed the divisional commissioners to form district peace committees through the respective deputy commissioners.
The chief minister also directed the chief secretary to ensure the presence of doctors and paramedical staff and the availability of medicines at the government hospitals during Muharram.
The representatives of intelligence agencies told the participants of the meeting that extra security arrangements were required in Shikarpur, Khairpur and Shahdadkot because of the activities of banned outfits there.

18,000 cops
Over 18,000 cops will be deployed in Karachi for the security of mourning processions, religious gatherings, imambargahs, and mosques during Muharram.
Karachi police chief Mushtaq Mehar held a meeting with DIGs, SSPs, SPs, SDPOs and SHOs on Monday to discuss the security plan for Muharram.
As part of the plan, policemen will be deployed at imambargahs, mosques, religious gatherings and on procession routes.
Besides, snipers will be deployed on the rooftops of buildings near the places. Activists of sectarian groups will be closely monitored during Muharram.
Cops will patrol vulnerable areas in vans, motorcycles as well as on foot. Walkthrough scanner gates will be installed at the entry and exit points of mosques and imambargahs and metal detectors will also be used.
The bomb disposal squad will thoroughly check imambargahs before gatherings are held there and remain alert round the clock to respond to any untoward situation.
It will be ensured that vehicles are parked away from imambargahs.
The police will contact the authorities concerned for proper streetlight arrangements at vulnerable places and coordinate closely with religious scholars and organisers of religious gatherings and processions to ensure effective security steps.
The police will also set up control rooms at the zonal level.
The 18,140 cops deployed in the city will include 8,833 in the East zone, 6,675 in the West zone and 2,632 in the South zone: