January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The Senate body on Thursday asked the government to make comprehensive security arrangements for Muharram amid media reports that a few suicide bombers had entered Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, headed by Senator Talha Mehmood, in its meeting expressed concern over the poor law and order situation in the country.

The committee suggested the government to take all possible steps to save life and property of the people, especially during the sensitive days of Muharram.

Meanwhile, the local administration has chalked out ‘Code of Ethics’ and a security plan for the processions and gatherings during Muharram.

Chief Commissioner Islamabad Hamid Ali Khan presided over a meeting which reviewed security arrangements during Muharram in the federal capital and finalised these arrangements after consultation with the Ulema.

The meeting was attended by Ulema of all schools of thought, besides Inspector General of Police Islamabad Shahid Nadeem Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amer Ali Ahmed, SSP Islamabad Kaleem Imam and officials of the district administration.

The chief commissioner told the meeting that foolproof security arrangements would be ensured in the capital to maintain law and order while all departments concerned, including hospitals, would remain on high alert during Muharram.

He said peace committees, comprising Ulema, would monitor internal security arrangements during the processions and gatherings and around mosques and Imambargahs.

Mr Khan said a control room having landline number 9261504 would function round-the-clock and monitor security arrangements.

The meeting also approved code of ethics to maintain peace, religious harmony, fraternity and brotherhood during Muharram and agreed to use loudspeakers according to law and not for making any speech that might fan sectarianism and hurt the sentiments of others.

According to the code of ethics, the speeches promoting harmony would be focused on and no wall chalking and display of arms would be allowed.

The meeting decided that peace committees would arrange power generators due to power crisis while staff of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) would remove wall chalking that hurt the religious sentiments of others.

The IGP Islamabad said the capital police would provide security cover to all processions and gatherings during Muharram.

He asked the Ulema and members of the peace committees to provide final list of those volunteers to the SSP who would be deputed for internal security of processions and gatherings.

He also requested the peace committees to follow the timings set for the processions on various routes.

The deputy commissioner said assistant commissioners, magistrates and SHOs had started meetings with peace committees at police station level following his directions.

He said the relevant officers of the CDA had been directed to ensure cleanliness, and water and lighting arrangements at the procession routes.

The SSP Islamabad said strict security arrangements had been made with the cooperation of the Ulema and peace committees.

He said Rescue 15 would remain on alert while ambulances had been arranged for the occasion, adding that the police would provide walk-through gates and metal detectors.

Online adds: District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas has said foolproof security plan was being devised for Muharram on the directives of Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Justice (retired) Ijaz Nisar.

The district administration is chalking out security plan for maintenance of law and order and to cope with any untoward incident. Vacations of police have also been cancelled, Mr Ikhlas told mediapersons.

Police personnel would be deputed on the routes of mourning processions and at Majlis-i-Aza.

The caretaker Punjab chief minister lauded the tolerance and patience shown by the people living in Rawalpindi after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He hoped that the people would continue to maintain peaceful environment during Muharram.