RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has banned the entry of 158 religious leaders in the Rawalpindi division belonging to the districts of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum.

Besides, gagging orders have also been issued against 76 clerics to avoid sectarian violence in Muharram.

The provincial government issued directives to ban the entry of 158 clerics, including 62 from the Deoband school of thought, 65 from Shia community and 31 from the Barelvi sect.

16-member monitoring committee also formed to ensure peace in Muharram

The government had received reports from the Special Branch that these clerics would disturb peace and harmony in the Rawalpindi division.

In the Rawalpindi district alone, the entry of 17 clerics has been banned. They included nine from the Shia school of thought, six from Deobandi and two Berailvis. The gagging orders have been issued against 21 clerics in the city - five Shias, 15 Deobandis and one Barelvi. 

The government has also formed a 16-member monitoring and coordination committee, comprising elected representatives, to ensure peace and harmony in the division.

Ironically, the government included two non-elected members in the committee - former MNA Hanif Abbasi and PML-N City president Sardar Naseem.

The PML-N government had no option but include the local PML-N leaders as six MPAs belonged to the PTI. Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid won two seats of National Assembly from the city.

A senior Punjab government official told Dawn that the divisional administration and law enforcement agencies had made all arrangements to provide foolproof security to 726 main mourning processions.

As many as 726 mourning processions will be brought out in the four districts and 89 of them have been declared highly sensitive and 100 mild sensitive.

Besides, 3765 majalis will be held in the four districts out of which 391 are very sensitive and 391 mild sensitive.

Commissioner Zahid Saeed told Dawn that the provincial government asked the local police and law enforcement agencies to provide security to all the processions and majalis as these were in ‘A’ category.

In reply to a question, he said peace committees had been activated in the four districts.

The Islamabad police have started taking assurances from clerics who may create law and order situation during Muharram.

As many as 5000 security personnel will be deputed in the federal capital to guard a total of 909 religious gatherings (Majalis) and 177 processions.

According to a statement, the police have finalised security arrangements for the processions and religious gatherings during Muharram and decided to launch combing as well as search operations in slum areas of the city.

Rangers and FC will also assist the police to ensure security arrangements.

Walk-through gates will be installed at all the entry and exit points of Majalis and processions.

It will be mandatory for the participants and organisers of the processions to get clearance certificates from the concerned police station.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2014