March 4, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 30, 1423

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ATTOCK, March 3: Army personnel will be deployed in all five Tehsils of the district to assist local administration in maintaining law and order during Muharram.

This was stated by the district police officer (DPO) Attock, Syed Irshad Hussain Shah, while talking to newsmen here on Monday.

The official said all necessary arrangements had been finalized to avoid any untoward incident. The leave applications of all the policemen have cancelled, he added.

The DPO said police and other security personnel had been deployed at 55 Imambargahs of the district and other sensitive places, including markets, bus-stands, and railway stations. They will be on high alert during the mourning processions, he added.

“A main control room will be established at the district police office to supervise the security arrangements, while district peace committees and tehsil peace committees will also help the administration in maintaining law and order.”

The police official said all SDPOs and SHOs had been directed to patrol the areas falling in their jurisdiction and check the activities of anti-social elements. A flag march will be carried out on Muharram 5 and 6 to review the security measures, he added.

The DPO said traditional routes of mourning processions would not be changed or extended. He also warned religious leaders against making provocative speeches.

Meanwhile, District Nazim Attock Tahir Sadiq Khan has imposed section 144 in the district to maintain law and order situation during Muharram.

WOMEN COUNCILLORS: The district Nazim, Tahir Sadiq, said women councillors would be included in local Zakat and Ushr committees.

The Nazim was talking to a group of women councillors at his office. He said vocational training centres for women at tehsil level would also be established to provide technical knowledge for their socio-economic uplift.

He asked the women councillors to assist the district government in education and health sector by encouraging women of the area. In district Attock, maximum funds have been allocated for development programmes, but every councillor can not be awarded separate development schemes, he added.

Mr Sadiq said, “annual budget of the district is Rs960 million.”

The Nazim said five new subjects had been introduced at postgraduate level, while more land had been provided for extension of the women college.

APP ADDS: The Attock police have chalked out a special plan to maintain security at sensitive places.

According to the police, 684 Majalis will be held throughout the district during 10 days of Aashura, while 113 Zuljinnah processions will be taken out.

Entry of 35 Shia and 29 Sunni Ulema into the district has been banned during Muharram, while 15 Sunni and seven Shia Ulema have been banned from delivering sermons.