PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared seven districts of the province sensitive for Muharram and said 33,000 security personnel had been deployed across the province to maintain law and order situation during the month.

The information was disclosed during a high-level meeting held here on Monday to review the security situation during Muharram.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired the meeting.

The sensitive districts included Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, Peshawar, Lakki Marwat and Tank, according to a statement issued here.

Acting chief secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari, divisional commissioners, regional police officers, and other civil and military high-ups attended the meeting.

Govt deploys 33,000 security personnel in province, meeting told

The meeting reviewed the province’s overall law and order situation in light of development in the neighbouring Afghanistan with a focus on security arrangements for Muharram.

The meeting was briefed about possible security threats in the context of the current situation, arrangements made to deal with them effectively, and steps required to be taken to maintain law and order in Muharram.

It was told that in the prevailing situation, extraordinary security arrangements have been put in place to ensure law and order situation.

According to the statement, special control rooms have been set up at provincial, divisional and district levels for Muharram security.

Around 585 mourning processions and 5,000 majalis will be held across the province.

The meeting was told that religious leaders of different sects had been engaged at provincial, divisional and district levels to ensure inter-sect harmony in Muharram, while strict action is being taken against those involved in sharing hate material on social media.

Also, arrangements have been made to ensure strict monitoring of hotels and other places near imambargahs and Muharram procession routes.

The meeting decided that mobile phone service would be suspended on Muharram 9 and 10 in sensitive districts of the province.

The chief minister stressed the need for the implementation of the Covid-19 SOPs in Muharram processions and directed the relevant authorities to take necessary steps for the purpose.

He also ordered the cancellation of the leaves of hospital staff in all sensitive areas during Muharram and said suitable arrangements should be made for the accommodation of the police officials from other districts deputed in Peshawar.

Mr Mahmood said any situation in the neighboring Afghanistan had a direct impact on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, so the prevailing situation required extraordinary security arrangements.

He said the police and other law-enforcement agencies should be very vigilant and proactive.

The CM directed the police to continue cracking down on anti-social elements effectively and with a closer coordination with intelligence agencies.

He said the maintaining of law and order was the foremost responsibility of the government and the government would take all necessary measures to ensure it.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2021