ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Paramilitary reinforcements joined the police contingents deployed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday on the eve of Youm-i-Ashur as the country reeled under a spat of suicide attacks over the weekend.

Frontier Constabulary jawans patrolled the streets of the densely populated Rawalpindi and took up positions at sensitive places in Islamabad where a suicide bomber had blown himself up outside the highly protected Marriott Hotel on Friday.

Six companies of the army have been put on alert in Rawalpindi where intelligence suggested “terror threats” exist.

Armed policemen were posted on the rooftops of about a dozen government buildings in the vicinity of the hotel to keep a watch on the sensitive area, designated as “Red Zone”, during the Ashura proceedings.

Over 40 important buildings and places have been declared sensitive in the twin cities by the authorities.

About 8,500 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Rawalpindi and 2,900 in Islamabad to maintain peace during 10th Moharram processions, according to security sources.

Military helicopters will provide aerial surveillance on the procession routes.

Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in view of specific “terror threat” to Muharram procession at three places in Rawalpindi, the security sources said.

DPO Rawalpindi Saud Aziz confirming the intelligence report told Dawn that eight screening gates would be set up through which every one joining the procession will have to pass.

“For the safety of our officers, we have provided 76 bullet proof jackets to police officers who will be on duty with Moharram procession.”

Sniffer dogs would be used to check the route of procession and any person spotted acting suspiciously while joining the procession.

Mounted police would escort the procession while two Armoured Personnel Carriers would move along side the main procession on 10th Muharram.

Civil defence bomb disposal squad, fire brigade, and ambulances will accompany the procession.

The Rawalpindi district administration has banned the use of loudspeakers for making sectarian speeches and watching of the procession from the rooftops.

Police held meetings with Ulema of different religious thoughts and sought their cooperation in maintaining religious harmony and peace in the city, said the DPO.

The district administration has posted police in plainclothes in the vicinity of all mosques, Imambargahs and places of Majalis in Rawalpindi as part of the measures taken to maintain peace during the Ashura.

Hospitals of the twin cities have also been asked to make special arrangements to meet any untoward situation.

Water sabeels would also be set up by various religious and philanthropists organisations which would provide drinking water to the mourners.

District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas told Dawn after a meeting with law enforcement agencies that as a precautionary measures, it would be ensured that no one stays inside mosques during night.

Ulema have been requested to observe the code of ethics in their speeches at Majalis and follow the agreed routes and timings for Zuljinnah processions.

Female and male police have also been posted at places of Majalis for women. The administration has closed a number of roads in the city for the protection of processions.

On Monday the ninth of Muharram, 115 Zuljinnah processions were taken out from different parts of Rawalpindi, according to the Nazim.

APP adds: The 9th Muharram procession, which was taken out from Markazi Imambargah, G-6/2, ended here peacefully.