PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared five districts as most sensitive and four others as sensitive for Muharram.

A statement issued here by Central Police Office said that steps were being taken to maintain peace during Muharram. It said that the most sensitive districts included Peshawar, Kohat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank. Mardan, Abbottabad, Haripur and Mansehra have been declared sensitive districts while about 140 potential trouble spots have also been identified throughout the province.

The statement said that 460 major and minor processions would be taken out from 266 imambargahs in the province and 2,683 majalis would be held. About 118 mourning processions would be taken out from 71 imambargahs in Peshawar while 314 majalis would be also held in the provincial capital.

It said that 534 majalis would be held at 28 imambargahs in Hangu and 28 processions would be held in the district. It said that 194 mourning processions would be taken out from 69 imambargahs in Dera Ismail Khan where 634 majalis would be held.

Similarly, 12 processions would be taken out in Kohat from 51 imambargahs and 510 majalis would be held there. In Tank, 37 processions would emerge from nine imambargahs.

Among the sensitive districts, Haripur would witness 37 processions from 19 imambargahs. Also, 10 processions would be held in Abbottabad, 12 in Mansehra and two in Mardan.

The statement said that 11 processions would take place in Nowshera, two in Bannu and three in Lakki Marwat. It said that 32,782 police, paramilitary, reserve police and former servicemen would be deployed in the provincial capital to ensure peace during Muharram.

Similarly, 3,118 personnel would be deployed in Hangu, 6,566 in Dera Ismail Khan, 2,660 in Kohat, 1,624 in Tank, 855 in Haripur, 700 in Abbottabad, 899 in Manshera, 942 in Mardan, 956 in Nowshera, 1,030 in Bannu and 601 in Lakki Marwat to ensure peace during Muharram.

It said that on 9th and 10th of Muharram, police would also conduct aerial surveillance of processions in Peshawar, Hangu, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan, while cops would also be deployed on hilltops in cities located in the foothills of the mountains.

The statement said that KP police Chief Salahuddin Mehsud would also likely to visit the regions and districts to get briefings on security plan. A command post would also be set up in the provincial capital. A jirga of both Sunni and Shia sects was likely to be held with the police chief.

Also on Tuesday, the police chief chaired a meeting of regional police officers to discuss the Muharram security. The officials briefed him about the security situation and arrangements in their respective regions.

Also in the day, Peshawar deputy commissioner imposed ban on pillion riding, wall-chalking, distribution of objectionable pamphlets, display of weapons, use of loudspeakers for other purposes except Azaan and Friday sermons, entry of Afghans into Peshawar city and cantonment, sale of fireworks items, use of tinted glasses, standing on rooftops along the routes of processions and staying of strangers in hostels and inns on the routes of the processions under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018

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