RAWALPINDI: Local police will record and film the Muharram orations and processions to deter firebrand religious speakers from stirring up sectarian trouble in the city.

This is part of a set of security measures the Punjab’s Home Department has asked the police all over the province to take on the occasion. The measures have particular relevance to Rawalpindi which was rocked by bloody sectarian violence during Muharram in the past two years.

Video and audio recordings of last year’s Muharram procession in Raja Bazaar had helped the police to identify and arrest the provocateurs and rioters who indulged in attacks and arson on the occasion.

Because of the simmering bad memories, the authorities have raised the threat level to Imambargah Qasr-i-Shabbir in Dhoke Syedan, which was attacked in 2012, from low to high.

Even otherwise, the Home Department of Punjab thought that the militants, hit by the Zarb-i-Azb military operation in the tribal areas, can try to attack such religious gatherings to create chaos in the country.

“All restrictions imposed on the persons placed under Schedule 4 should be implemented in letter and spirit,” the department said in one of its directives to the provincial police.

Schedule 4 is a section of the Anti-Terrorism Act used to bind troublesome figures not to move out of the district of their residence without informing the police.

Scores of fiery preachers are listed in the Schedule 4 to keep a check on their movement on sensitive religious events, particularly Muharram, a month of mourning for many Muslims.

Security sources said 190 majalis (religious gatherings) and 102 processions are planned across the Rawalpindi district on 9th Muharram. Twenty-one of the majalis have been put under Category A, the highest level of terror threat, 26 in Category B which signifies ‘medium’ threat, and the rest in Category C, the lowest threat level.

Another 118 majalis and 64 processions will mark the Ashura day on 10th Muharram.

Army troops will be on stand-by position on the two crucial Muharram days while Punjab Constabulary personnel and Rangers are likely to be called in to assist the Rawalpindi district police to maintain peace, according to the security sources.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2014