Extraordinary security measures taken in KP ahead of Ashura

IGP visits sensitive areas

PESHAWAR: Extraordinary security measures were taken in the provincial metropolis on the 9th of Muharram Tuesday as the Saddar and inner city remained sealed with the trade centres shut and a thin traffic seen on the roads.

All the main trade centres remained closed. Majority of the people stayed indoors in the wake of the extraordinary security and threats during the Ashura. Apart from police, the bomb disposal unit officials also checked the route ahead of the 9th Muharram procession from the Imambargah Hussainia Hall on the Saddar Road that ended peacefully.

Electronic monitoring of the processions was being done by the police through drone cameras. The cops were directed to film all the activity so the movement of any suspicious person could be noticed. Pillion-riding and brandishing of weapons as well as the entry of Afghans into to the city limits was already banned.

Apart from police, the soldiers of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary remained on high alert on the entry points and inside the city to maintain law and order. The entry points to the capital city were strengthened for the last two days of the Ashura in the wake of threats of terrorist attacks.

Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani visited various parts of the city to inspect the security arrangements. “There are threats but the police are alert to counter any kind of terrorism. Adequate security measures have been taken in Peshawar and other districts for peaceful observance of Muharram,” Nasir Durrani told media persons at the command post in Kohati.

The IGP said he visited the sensitive districts of Hangu and Kohat the other day to inspect the security arrangement and meet the elders. “Peshawar is most sensitive where extra security arrangements have been made with taking care that it causes minimum inconvenience to the public,” said the IGP who was flanked by the Capital City Police Officer Mohammad Tahir and Senior Superintendent of Police Operation Abbas Majeed Marwat.

The IGP said satisfactory arrangements had been made for peaceful observance of Muharram in all the districts, especially those declared sensitive and most sensitive for the security point of view.

The provincial police chief met separately the delegations from Shia and Sunni sects and exchanged views with them about the security arrangements adopted by the police in the command post. Both the delegations expressed full satisfaction at the security measures as well as assured full cooperation for peaceful observance of Muharram.

Earlier, the senior police officers supervised the security of the imambargahs and routes of processions from the command and control post in the inner city. Trade centres in Qissa Khwani, Kohati, Koochi Bazaar, Kabari Bazaar, Meena Bazaar, Peepal Mandi, Saddar Road and adjoining areas remained closed for security reasons. The cops had been at the highest alert for the last over a week after threats of attacks during Muharram. A number of districts of the province were declared sensitive for security point of view due to the level of threats.

According to police officials search and strike operations were carried out during the last two weeks during which huge quantity of explosives and ammunition were recovered. Apart from police, Frontier Constabulary and army are also performing duty to maintain law and order in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.