RAWALPINDI: An additional force of 380 personnel have been called from the Police Training School (PTS) Rawat and Police College Sihala (PCS) to assist the Rawalpindi police to maintain peace in Muharram.

Meanwhile, following police reports, the district administration has imposed a ban on entry of 38 ulema belonging to different sects into the district and 16 ulema may also be banned from delivering speeches/sermons at any public place or religious gathering during the month.

On the recommendations of the district intelligence committee (DIC), the police have proposed that the entry of 38 ulema should be banned in the limits of Rawalpindi district besides stopping 16 ulema from delivering speeches.

The police and DIC believed that the ulema are in the habit of delivering provocative sectarian speeches and likely to create tension if allowed to enter and reside in the district.

The inspector general of Punjab police have been requested to provide extra personnel to assist the police in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal to maintain peace in Muharram.

38 ulema banned from entering Rawalpindi, 16 others not allowed to make speeches

Following this, the IGP allocated 160 personnel from the Police Training College Rawat and 120 from Police College Sihala to report to the Attock district police, 40 personnel from PCS to assist the Jhelum police and 60 personnel from PCS to help the Chakwal police.

On the other hand, the City Traffic Police have chalked out a traffic plan for Muharram with the deployment of 1,000 personnel.

A spokesman for the traffic police said on Friday that routes leading to congregations and processions will be closed for all types of traffic and alternative routes will be provided.

He said acting on the orders of Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Naveed Irshad, Duty Officer Headquarters Mohammad Waseem issued the traffic plan to facilitate the citizens.

He said more than 1,000 personnel of Rawalpindi Traffic Police will be on special duty during Muharram.

The chief traffic officer also inspected the venues and routes of processions and met people of different schools of thought and listened to their issues.

Immediate solution orders were issued and all circle in-charges and traffic officials were instructed that vehicles and motorcycles should be parked at a distance of 500 yards from any processions and gatherings.

He also directed them to take strict action against vehicles without number plates and black paper on window glasses. Such motorcycles and vehicles should be impounded in police stations.

He said the prevention of terrorism and sabotage and maintenance of peace should be ensured with complete coordination.

All officers and youth should perform their duties with diligence and responsibility during the month and ensure the implementation of the traffic plan. Negligence and slackness of any kind will not be tolerated, said the CTO.

Ulema, Zakireen banned

The district administration imposed 90-day ban on the entry of 110 Ulema and Zakireen in Attock.

Speaking at a meeting of the District Ulema Board and Peace Committee on Friday, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zulqurnain said the district administration had taken the step to maintain religious harmony in Muharram.

The DC said the district administration and the police with the help of organisers of the Ashura processions would ensure implementation of coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs). He said the ban will be effective from Muharram 1.

He said licence was mandatory for bringing out processions and other rallies but organisers were bound to inform the district administration prior to taking out processions. — Amjad Iqbal also contributed to this story

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2022