January 07, 2009	Wednesday	Muharram 09, 1430

PESHAWAR, Jan 6: Security was put on high alert in and around the city as police continued body search of people both on the entry and exit points here on Tuesday.

The city wore a deserted look as almost all markets, hotels and bazaars remained closed. Barbwires were placed at all the entry points linking the roads of procession. Police were thoroughly checking people at Kohati Gate, near Khan Raziq Shaeed police station, Namak Mandi, Chowk Yadgar, Kochi Bazaar, Yakatut and Kotwali areas.

Police also closed some entry and exit points in Saddar Bazaar around the Hussainia Imambargah and Fawara Chowk. Police sources said that pillion riding had already been banned in the city and a number of people were fined for violating Section 144.

An official said that police would seal the city by diverting the traffic to different roads in order to facilitate the Muharram processions.

The security personnel also carried out a flag march in the city area. The officials monitored the security situation.

SSP Qazi Jamilur Rehman when contacted told Dawn that traders had extended full cooperation to them in respect of the holy month and kept closed their shops.

He said that personnel of security agencies were alert to monitor movement of people in order to avert any untoward incident.

He asked the people to extend full cooperation to the security personnel in maintenance of peace and tranquility in the city.

HOUSE BLOWN UP: Unidentified persons blew up house of Mohammad Ali, a member of local peace committee, in Sharikera area.

A police official said the house was blown up by planting explosives in its foundations. The building’s owner was relative of Sharikera union council nazim, who had shifted his family to another safer place and at the time of blast no one was present there.

He said the device went off with a loud bang at about 4am. The police, he said, visited the area but could not find any clue about the miscreants.

He said a case against unidentified militants was registered at Matani police station in this regard.

FAKE DOCUMENTS: Police claimed to have arrested a man and recovered fake documents including stamp papers, visas, passports, driving and arms licenses, national identity cads and stamps from his possession.

Police said during a raid the accused Mohammad Israr son of Toti Khan was arrested from his shop at Al-Iqbal Plaza in the limits of Khan Raziq Shaheed police station.

Police recovered 1,400 blank stomp papers of Rs30 each, 28 stamp papers of Rs100 each, 220 papers of Rs1,000 each, 80 papers of Rs5,000 each, 30 copies of blank arms licences, 5,000 fake visas of different countries.

The police also recovered blank and fake certificates, entry permits, blank cards of lawyers and several fake stamps of officials of various provinces.

TRAFFIC PLAN: The city police have devised a comprehensive traffic plan to facilitate the processions both on 9th and 10th of Muharram in Saddar and City areas of the provincial metropolis.

According to the plan the general public could use only Grand Trunk Road, Sher Shah Suri Road, Ring Road and Khyber Road as all the link roads would remain closed on the occasion.

The Saddar Road will be closed at Stadium Chowk and the unconcerned people would not be allowed to move towards Fawara Chowk, Shafi Market, Dil Jan Plaza, Quarter Chowk and adjacent streets.

The motorists coming from University Road could use Sunehri Masjid Road to move towards General Bus Stand.

The roads near Dabgari, Shuba Bazaar will remain open while all the link roads in Gulbahar, Metro Cross, Bus Terminal, Namak Mandi, Yakatut, Gynae Road and TVC College Road will be closed.

The traffic will be diverted from GT Road to Ring Road. Traffic diversions were also announced at Chowk Yadgar, City Hotel, Fruit Mandi, Truck Stand, Hazarkhwani Mor, and Chowk Shadipir.