LAHORE, March 5: Volunteer peace guards will be deployed along the routes of Zuljinah processions to assist police for maintaining peace on Ashura.

Peace guards will be provided green caps and armbands with the picture of a white dove for their identification. The decision was taken at a meeting of Data Ganj Bakhsh Town Nazim Khwaja Ahmad Hassan with police officials and union council Nazims at Nadir Hall on Tuesday.

The Nazim said the Data Ganj Bakhsh Town would be the most sensitive area during Ashura as the major Zuljinah emerging from Lal Haveli in the Walled City would conclude at the Karbala Gamey Shah after entering its jurisdiction at Bhati Chowk. Similarly the second largest Ashura gathering would take place in Islampura, Krishan Nagar, also in its jurisdiction.

He said precautionary measures would be taken to maintain sectarian harmony on the occasion.

He said the use of amplifier would be allowed for religious congregations and processions only under permission. Union council Nazims and councillors would also be involved in the peace keeping process by maintaining a close liaison with police.

The Nazim said all the roads and streets to be used by the Zuljinah processions would be repaired while defective streetlights along the routes would be replaced.