LAHORE: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar on Friday revised and approved a comprehensive security plan for Muharramul Haram.

More than 147,000 officers and personnel of the Punjab Police will perform security duties across the province on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. In Lahore, more than 10,000 policemen have been deployed for the security of mourning processions and Majalis.

The IG Punjab said that with the cooperation of religious scholars, community leaders, security agencies, a peaceful Ashura would be ensured.

A Punjab Police spokesperson said that on Ashura, 4,418 processions would be taken out across the province and 6,667 Majalis would be held. He said that more than 62,000 community volunteers would also assist with the security arrangements. In the provincial capital, 125 processions and 605 Majalis would be held.

About security arrangements for the 8th Muharram, the spokesperson said more than 58,000 personnel performed duties for 1,365 mourning processions and 3,940 Majalis across the province. More than 27,000 community volunteers also assisted the police, he added.

In Lahore, 3,600 police personnel were deployed for the security duties at 86 processions and 416 Majalis. The IGP said that implementation of Section 144 imposed was being ensured and aerial firing, display of weapons, promotion of hateful content, and incitement were prohibited. The CTD, Special Branch, Traffic Police and Dolphin Squad, along with other field formations had been deployed for security duty.

Dr Anwar directed officers to ensure strict implementation of the Loudspeaker Act. He said that control rooms established in all districts were connected with the central control room. He directed the RPOs, CPOs, and DPOs to go into the field and monitor the security arrangements.

The Punjab Police is taking action against promotion of objectionable content on social media and 35 such incidents had been reported in the last 24 hours. As many as 20 cases have been registered for sharing objectionable content, resulting in the arrest of 22 suspects. In the past five days, 103 cases were registered and 119 individuals had been arrested for sharing objectionable content on social media.

Earlier, flag marches were held by the police across the province in the context of Muharram on the instructions of IG Punjab. District police, Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit, Elite Force, and Traffic Police mobile vehicles and personnel participated in the flag marches.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2025