KOHAT: DIG Kohat division Tayyab Hafeez Cheema has directed officials to finalise a foolproof security plan to maintain peace during Muharram in the most sensitive districts of Kohat, Hangu, Orakzai and Kurram.

In a statement issued here on Friday, he asked all the district police officers to convene meetings of the religious figures of both the Shia and Sunni sects and the business community to chalk out a plan for promoting religious harmony during the sacred month. He asked for establishing control rooms for the monitoring of Muharram meetings and processions. He directed proper security of all important religious figures. He asked for enforcing all the previous agreements regarding the procession routes.

Mr Cheema said effective coordination should be ensured among all the intelligence agencies to thwart any aggression by sinister elements.

He said platoons of anti-riots police would remain on standby to move into action in case of any untoward indent.

He said the provincial government had been requested to provide helicopters for aerial surveillance of the Muharram processions.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Abdur Rehman has banned pillion-riding during Muharram.

According to a statement issued on Friday, he has also ordered closure of shops of arms dealers, weapons factories and banned dumping of construction material along the routes of mourning processions.

Similarly, carrying of petroleum products in bottles, small containers and gallons, use of tinted glass in vehicles, hate speeches, standing of people on rooftops along the procession routes, display of weapons, and the stay of non-locals in hotels and inns have also been banned during the month.

The violators would be proceeded against under section 188 of PPC.

CRACKDOWN LAUNCHED: The traffic police launched a crackdown on the transporters for fleecing passengers and seating passengers in access of the seating capacity on the Rawalpindi route.

Traffic warden Arab Jan said he had been getting complaints from passengers that the transporters were charging Rs50 extra after Eid holidays and were also seating more passengers than the seating capacity.

The warden said the transporters had been asked to return the extra money charged to the passengers.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2020