Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the law enforcement agencies on Wednesday to make extraordinary security arrangements for the coming month of Muharram, especially in view of a failed suicide attempt in the Shikarpur district, the entry of terrorists from Balochistan, Indian threats and security concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
He was presiding over a meeting on the security of Muharram at the CM House. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, IGP AD Khowaja, Additional IG CTD Sanaullah Abbasi, Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher, the home and local government secretaries, the city commissioner and some DIGs. The divisional commissioners and DIGs of other division attended through video link.
Briefing the chief minister, IGP Khowaja said there would be 5,097 majalis in the city, of them 836 would be most sensitive, 2,520 sensitive and 1,741 normal. The police had worked out a plan to deploy a force of 25,674 cops, he said.
He said the sensitive factors shown by the chief minister like the failed suicide attempt in the Khanpur area of Shaikarpur, the movement of terrorists from across Balochistan border, India’s threat, the Balochistan situation, the CPEC, police encounters against different banned organisations and arrests of their activists might lead to an untoward situation anywhere in the province.
The IGP said that he had conducted a special survey in which nine exit and entry points from Balochistan to Karachi had been identified where special security arrangements had been made such as the installation, CCTV cameras, strict checking, intelligence work and necessary deployment had been made. A similar arrangement had been made on the border with Balochistan right from Jacobabad to Kashmore, he said.
The commissioners and DIGs told the meeting that they had started removing wall chalking, banners, sign boards and other hate material. Anti-encroachment drives for removing roadside encroachments and obstructions, particularly from along the routes of processions, had also been started.
The provincial police chief said that he had ordered surveillance of terrorists released on bail or confined to judicial lockups as well as of those who had been put in the 4th schedule. The police had started a survey of shop and buildings along the route scanning of buildings around the places of majalis, he said.
The chief minister said intelligence work, combing operations and deployments must be made on a need basis.
“This is your job how, when and where to deploy force and where technical gadgets should be installed to keep an eye on the movement of suspicious persons, but I want results. That means a safe and secure Sindh during Muharram.”
He directed the commissioners and DIGs of all the divisions of the province to coordinate closely with local bodies representatives and involve them in the entire system.
There should be a proper drainage system and the provision of water and repair of roads should be ensured for the smooth passage of Muharram processions, he said, further directing the chief secretary to coordinate with the divisional and district administration to achieve the tasks.
The chief minister asked the district administration to frequently hold peace committee meetings.
“I want you to involve the civil society to ensure peace in their respective areas,” he said and added that local people irrespective of their sectarian affiliations were cooperating with the government for peace in their areas.
He directed Chief Secretary Siddique Memon to coordinate with K-Electric, Hesco and Sepco to drastically reduce power outages and exempt the entire province from electricity cuts from 8th to 10th Muharram.
He declared emergency in the health department during Muharram during which there would be a ban on leave, medicines would be provided to all hospitals and ambulance services would be improved.
The chief minister also directed the IGP to train volunteers and scouts on checking people and moving along processions.
He urged the commissioners to hold meetings with Ulema of different sects to maintain interfaith harmony during the holy month.
The chief minister said that he would convene another meeting to which heads of all law enforcement agencies, including intelligence agencies, would be called to chalk out a final security plan.
