THE month of Muharram is to start soon. Before any ugly incident takes place, the government should take appropriate steps to forestall any untoward incidents.

Having an anti-terrorism experience, I would like to offer the following suggestions:

All ‘majlis’ places should be registered with the local government. Other than these areas, no ‘zakir’ should be allowed to conduct a ‘majlis’.

Car parking areas should be well away from the compounds of ‘majlis’ areas. The old and sick may be dropped after clearance and their vehicles should go back to the parking area.

All the entry points should be well-guarded and each person attending a ‘majlis’ should be scanned and searched.

Keeping in view the prevailing conditions in the country, the procession on 10th of Muharram should be restricted to a smaller safe route or could be done away with it. The mourning could be done indoors rather than on roads where huge crowds become a security risk.

Armed plainclothesmen should be deployed at all gatherings to keep an eye on terrorists whose movements are always very suspicious.

M. Azhar Khwaja

Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014