KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday approved installation of extra closed-circuit television cameras that were used during the general election and directed the law enforcement agencies to deploy police and Rangers across Sindh to ensure foolproof security arrangements for congregations and processions.

Chief Minister Shah approved a ban on pillion riding from the night of 8th of Muharram and ordered keeping 52 companies of Pakistan Army ready in case of any emergency.

The chief minister presided over a meeting, which was attended by chief secretary Mumtaz Shah, adviser to CM on law Murtaza Wahab, DG Rangers Major General Omer Ahmed Bokhari, Sindh IG Dr Kaleem Imam, representative of the Pakistan Army, commanders of intelligence agencies, and other officers concerned.

The chief minister said no major incident had taken place during Muharram in Sindh over the past three years.

However, he expressed reservations on the targeted killing of a doctor in Karachi.

DG Rangers Maj Gen Omer Ahmed Bokhari said the route of the main Muharram procession had become a bit long because of development works on M. A. Jinnah Road from Numaish to Tibet Centre. He said 7,700 Rangers personnel would be deployed for the security of the Muharram procession.

He added that 3,400 Rangers personnel would be deployed in East Zone, 600 in West Zone, 400 in Mirpurkhas division, 600 in Benazirabad, 1,000 at Sukkur and 1,700 in Larkana division.

Maj Gen Omer Bokhari said 52 army companies would be deployed across Sindh.

Sindh IG Dr Kaleem Imam said there would be 15,971 majalis across Sindh of which 1,408 were categorised as most sensitive and 5,199 as sensitive.

The IG said 71,485 policemen and policewomen would be on duty during Muharram events across Sindh. Dr Imam said 3,793 mobiles, APCs, and motorcycles would be used. He said 6,288 mourning processions would be taken out in the province, and 439 of them had been declared most sensitive and 1,788 sensitive.

Besides, 737 tazia processions would be held, of which nine were most sensitive and 242 were sensitive. He said air surveillance would be used from 8th of Muharram.

Similarly, 93 mobile phone jammers would be installed across Sindh.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2019