LAKKI MARWAT: Lakki Marwat and Bannu police have vowed to ensure peaceful observance of Ashura with the help of Shia and Sunni communities, peace bodies, traders and local government representatives.

Speaking at a meeting at his office on Tuesday, Bannu district police officer Iftekhar Shah said the district had over the years seen peaceful observance of Muharram 10 processions thanks to harmony and closed coordination between different schools of religious thought.

Representatives of Shia and Sunni sects, traders’ leaders and civil society activists attended the meeting. The religious leaders said they would be at the forefront in foiling nefarious designs of anti-peace elements.

The traders also assured the police of cooperation for peaceful observance of Ashura.

Meanwhile, speaking at a meeting, Lakki Marwat DPO Mohammad Ashfaq Khan said a foolproof security plan was being finalised to provide protection to mourners and majalis during Muharram.

He said deployment of cops would be ensured in and around imambargahs and on the routes of processions. He said additional checkpoints would be set up and foot and mobile patrolling would be increased to thwart any malicious act of anti-social elements.

He called upon Shia and Sunni communities to promote tolerance and brotherhood and cooperate with the police in maintaining peace during Muharram.

LAID TO REST: A policeman, who was martyred in a gunfight with miscreants in North Waziristan tribal district, was laid to rest in his native village on Tuesday.

An official said constables Mohsin Azam, Sameenullah and Noor Gul were injured when terrorists attacked a checkpost in Mirali town on Monday night. He said the injured were taken to a hospital in Mirali, wherefrom Mohsin and Noor were airlifted to CMH Bannu, but Mohsin succumbed to his injures.

He said the body was taken to Iqbal Shaheed Police Lines in Bannu city where a contingent presented a guard of honour to their fallen colleague after the funeral prayers.

The official said divisional commissioner Parweiz Sabatkhel, RPO Qasim Ali Khan, DPO Iftekhar Shah and military authorities laid floral wreath on his coffin.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2023