KARACHI, March 21: A high-level meeting held here on Thursday discussed the plan for ensuring effective security measures all over the province and decided to deploy eight wings of Pakistan rangers on important places.

The details of their deployment, including permanent and temporary pickets, mobile patrolling and coordination between different law enforcing agencies, were also decided.

The security arrangements shall be further enhanced through helicopter vigil-hovering. The helicopter shall be used to keep surveillance by flying over the sensitive venues. While airborne, it shall be in constant communication with the ground formations.

The meeting was informed that 2,467 Majalis were scheduled to be held in the province from 6th to 10th Muharram, during which period 2,581 Tazia processions would also be taken out. The meeting approved the recommendation of the inspector-general of Sindh police for 446 spots to be declared sensitive in the province.

Extraordinary security arrangements shall be made to maintain peace in these sensitive places.

Security measures for other places of worship, including churches and temples, were also discussed. The district, town and taluka Nazims shall associate themselves with the law enforcement agencies during Muharram days and would assist them in the maintenance of law and order. The Nazims during this period would be available in the areas of their jurisdiction.

It was decided that flag marches would be carried out by the Rangers and police. Static pickets would be established by Rangers at the sensitive spots. Snap-checking, especially of motorcycles, would be carried out vigorously. Women police officers would also be deployed for snap checking.

The meeting was informed that ulema from the four schools of thought had agreed to join hands in the maintenance of peace. The Sunni ulema shall ensure that no one was allowed to create any unwanted situation in and around the Majalis and processions.

The meeting, presided over by Sindh Chief Secretary Javed Ashraf Hussain, was attended also by the home secretary, the capital police officer and the DDG of Pakistan Rangers.—PPI