19,000 cops deputed for security as Muharram starts today

With the Muharram moon sighted on Sunday and the holy month officially commencing on Monday (today), the city police chief announced deployment of 19,000 cops in six districts of the city to guard all Muharram related activities. 

According to the details provided by a police spokesman, in District South, 4,244 cops were to be deployed; in West 8,833, while in the East 6,429 policemen were to be deployed.

The spokesman stated that Addl IG Karachi, Mushtaq Mehar, has directed all Karachi Range DIGs, to direct district SSPs, SPs, SDPOs and SHOs to ensure foolproof security during the month of Muharram.

Moreover, the police officials were also told to coordinate with Sunni, Shia Ulemas and other notables to ensure religious harmony among the sects.

A sufficient number of personnel were to be deployed at all Imambargahs, Majalis and processions especially the main ones, in order to avert any untoward incident; constant vigilance was directed to be maintained on activists of militant and sectarian groups as well as criminal elements.

The Addl IG further directed to ensure that mobility of all those placed on the ‘4th schedule’ for their activities was restricted to a minimum level, and directed the respective division SPs, SDPO's and SHO's to personally visit Imambargahs and closed as well as open areas where Majalis were being organised.

A control room was also directed to be established at Range and district level to monitor the situation round the clock.

All intersections and crossings on the main procession routes were to be blocked, and all approaching roads to be secured.

Anything mysterious found during the sweeping of the routes or at physical searches of Imambargahs and Majalis was asked to be checked by the bomb disposal squad. The squad was to be kept on red alert round the clock.

Car parking areas were directed to be established at a safe distance from the main.

This past Tuesday, the Sindh Rangers had also finalised a security plan at a meeting held at their headquarters.

The meeting, presided over by the director general of the Sindh Rangers, Major General Bilal Akbar, was attended by senior officials of the paramilitary force, intelligence agencies and the Sindh police, including the additional inspector general of police in Karachi, Mushtaq Mehar, said a Rangers spokesman. 

The meeting had discussed at length the overall law and order situation and the security measures to be taken for ensuing foolproof security during the holy month of Muharram, during which multiple security threats are perceived, he added.