TAXILA: The Attock police on Saturday conducted a flag march along with contingents of Pakistan Rangers to maintain peace in the city during Muharram.

The flag march, participated by contingents of Muhafiz squads, Elite Force squads and traffic police, started from Police Lines and culminated at the same point after marching through city roads including the routes of Muharram and Ashura processions.

Speaking on the occasion, SP Investigation Imran Razzaq, who was heading the march, said the flag-march was aimed at creating a feeling of protection and security among the public besides exhibiting the police preparedness.

He said the district police had chalked out a security plan for Muharram. He said police would accomplish their responsibility in an efficient manner to ensure protection to the lives and property of citizens.

He said police would maintain a close liaison with peace committees and organisers of Majalis and processions to ensure peace.

He claimed that stringent security measures have been adopted in the district to avoid any untoward incident during Muharram.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Mohammad Zulqurnain along with assistant commissioner city Samman Abbas, official of municipal administration, police and other law enforcement agencies visited main routes of Ashura procession and main Imambargah Panjnati in Attock cantonment to review the securityarrangements and other facilities.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, he said leaves of all officials especially police and health services had been cancelled as part of the contingency plan.

He said Rangers would be on a standby during Muharram. He said that no one would be allowed to disturb peace during the month.

Responding a question, he said that CCTV cameras had been installed on all routes of processions, in and around Imambargahs for ensuring round the clock monitoring of Majalis and processions during Muharram. He said distribution of “hate material and wall chalking” will not be allowed.

Mr Zulqurnain said work on removal of encroachments was in progress on all procession routes. Officials from the district administration, health, Wapda and other departments would accompany all processions.

He said that control rooms were also functional to monitor mourning processions and Majalis in all tehsils of the district.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2022