January 13, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 03, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: To ensure peace during the month, the city management on Saturday announced a number of measures including a ban on standing on rooftops of buildings along the Muharram procession routes.

Chief Commissioner of Islamabad capital territory Hamid Ali Khan said standing on rooftops on the procession routes had been prohibited under Section 144.

Similarly, he added, wall-chalking, publication and distribution of objectionable literature and display of weapons had been banned under the same section.

He said misuse of loudspeakers would not be allowed and those violating the Loudspeaker and Amplifier Ordinance 1963 would be dealt with strictly.

The official said the city administration had also banned the entry of some ulema into the capital.

He said organisers of majalis would arrange and keep power generators on standby in the event of loadshedding.

All the city hospitals have been put on high alert and a contingency plan is in place, Mr Khan said.

Earlier, the chief commissioner accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed, Inspector-General of Police Shahid Nadeem Baloch, Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Kaleem Imam and SSP traffic Mohammad Zubair Hashmi visited the routes of Muharram processions to review the security arrangements.

The chief commissioner said the city administration and the police had made comprehensive security arrangements to maintain law and order and ensure security and peace during the month.

He said a high state of security alert would be maintained in the capital during the month. Security in mosques, imambargahs, at public places and key sensitive installations has been further tightened and upgraded.

He said extra police personnel have also been deployed at these places to ensure foolproof security and avert any untoward incident.

The chief commissioner said special security arrangements had also been made for processions and majalis.

“Internal security of majalis would be ensured by the organisers themselves and entry would be allowed after identification and checking,” he said, adding metal detectors and walk-through gates would be used for security check at the majalis.

He said foolproof security arrangements had been made for the 48 mourning processions in rural and urban areas while walk-through gates would be installed in G-9, Alipur Farash, Aabpara and Tarlai. He said all processions would pass through the designated routes and their timings would be followed strictly.

The official said he had also held a meeting with a 20-member peace committee of ulema and chalked out security arrangements for processions and majalis. Local peace committees have also been activated, he added.

APP adds: The district police officer of Chakwal issued a special security plan to all DSPs and SHOs of the eleven police stations in the district.

He directed them to closely monitor the activities of criminals and people who were earlier booked in cases of religious extremism.

The onlookers will be discouraged to stand close to the routes of Muharram processions. Police can call in the army for its assistance from Muharram 5, he added.

The Chakwal police have called in 1,000 extra policemen to ensure security.

Online adds: On the directives of the Punjab government, the Rawalpindi district administration has banned pillion riding during the holy month of Muharram.

Pillion riding has been banned for an indefinite period but it is believed that this restriction will continue till Ashura. However, women, children and old people have been exempted.

Relevant authorities have been directed to ensure implementation on the ban.