January 24, 2007	Wednesday	Muharram 04, 1428

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FAISALABAD, Jan 23: The formulation of a Muharram security plan without consulting the district peace committee members caused an uproar at an official meeting called by the city police officer on Tuesday.

Sources privy to the meeting told Dawn that CPO Mohammad Aslam Tareen convened the meeting to apprise the 43-member district peace committee of security arrangements made for Muharram.

During the meeting, the sources said, some of the committee members voiced their reservations regarding the plan and said they were not consulted during its preparation.

The members also lashed out at police officers for the alleged step-motherly treatment being meted out to the body. They said the peace committee had been reduced to a mere rubber stamp, and its members were not being consulted on any issue.

The sources quoted them as saying that since commencement of Muharram, Police had not invited any suggestions from the committee members on maintaining law and order in the city. They said in the past the members were consulted for the purpose.

The sources said all the members endorsed the standpoint, expressing dismay over the poor coordination of the police officials with the body, which comprised representatives of Shia, Sunni and Ahle Hadith sects, besides those of Christian and Sikh communities.

The sources said that earlier the committee members used to be activated at police station level to help control any eventuality during Muharram. However, this time the practice was abandoned, they said, warning that the lack of knowledge about local socio-political scenario on the part of police officers might result in an untoward situation.

However, the CPO told Dawn that there were no difference between the committee office-bearers and the police over the security plan, saying the body’s cooperation was indispensable for maintaining peace and harmony in the district.

“We have briefed the peace committee members and they were comprehensively apprised of the security plan,” he claimed.