KOHAT: The district administration announced on Wednesday that all security arrangements, including giving certain tasks to armed forces and deployment of police, have been completed.

Deputy commissioner, Kohat, Riaz Khan Mehsud told mediapersons at his office that extraordinary precautionary measures had been taken to avert an imminent threat of terrorism in the most sensitive district during Muharram. For the first time, the police force has also been given training under the new guidelines at the police lines of how to frisk people at various checkposts.

Besides, the district administration has decided that the mobile phone service would remain suspended in Kohat on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

The intelligence agencies have declared three imambargahs and 12 mosques as the most sensitive and their charge has been given to the law enforcement agencies and trained people from both the sides to protect them. The administration has imposed Section 144 and banned gathering of more than five people, walk chalking and carrying and display of all arms, even the licenced ones.

Mobile phone service to remain off on 9th and 10th

Of late, high-profile provincial officials of law enforcement agencies have been visiting the district and holding jirgas to pacify sentiments of both the sides, keeping in view the killing of three persons and burning of 18 shops during riots in last Muharram. The intelligence agencies have warned that extremist elements from both the sides might try to take revenge for the last year’s happenings.

ARMS SEIZED: The police seized arms and ammunition, which were being smuggled from tribal area to Punjab, and arrested five alleged smugglers here on Wednesday.

The city police stopped a suspicious car on Indus Highway for checking and on search found arms and ammunition, including two Kalashnikovs, two rifles, 13 pistols, 21 chargers and 900 cartridges of different bores.

Those arrested on the spot were identified as Rana Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Tanveer, Omar Khan and Mohammad Aslam of Bakkhar district of Punjab and Sajjad Mohammad of Mohammadzai village of Kohat. The police registered a case and presented them in the local court, which has sent them to prison.

Published in Dawn, October 30th , 2014