January 03, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 23, 1428

KARACHI, Jan 2: Caretaker Home Minister Brig (Retd) Akhtar Zamin on Wednesday held a meeting with the ulema belonging to various sects in connection with the security arrangements to be made for the month of Muharram-ul-Haram.

The meeting held at the Central Police Office was attended by Home Secretary Brig (Retd) Ghulam Mohammed Mohtaram, CCPO Karachi Azhar Ali Farooqi, three Zonal DIGs, DIG Traffic, all TPOs, Traffic SPOs and representatives of the city government, the KWSB, the KESC and other concerned departments.

The home minister said that the government gave special importance to ulema’s suggestions for an effective and coordinated security for which arrangements were being made.

He expressed the confidence that with the cooperation of religious figures, the month of Muharram would pass off peacefully and Ashura would be observed with religious fervour and sectarian harmony. In this regard, all related organisations would discharge their responsibilities with utmost efficiency, he added.

The CCPO briefed the meeting about the security arrangements planned by the police department, and said that the measures taken on the occasion last year would be emulated. He said police would seek support of the departments concerned and agencies.

He told the meeting that coordinated arrangements were being made for lighting, cleanliness, repair of roads, traffic flow and security at congregations and for mourners’ processions.

The ulema and other leaders present at the meeting included Allama Abbas Kumeli, Maulana Mirza Yusuf Hussain, Allama Shah Turabul Haq Qadri, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Maulana Furqan Haider Abidi and Chacha Waheed.—APP