LAHORE: The provincial home department has issued guidelines for the maintenance of peace and order for Muharramul Haram, requiring extraordinary vigilance and extensive security measures to stave off any miscreant activity.

In a seven-page order issued to all police and civil administration on Friday, the department advised security measures even in remote areas. It also called for timely and proactive intelligence sharing between all law enforcement agencies.

The department has asked that all intelligence committees, peace committees and interfaith harmony committees’ meetings should be held immediately to assess threats and ensure security. It said that only licensed and traditional processions would be allowed and all processions shall strictly be confined to essential and traditionally observed rituals.

The home department asked all districts to ensure security arrangements at all imambargahs and special focus on sensitive locations, diplomatic installations, transport hubs and other high-footfall public areas.

The security plans have been sought for Chinese nationals, foreign missions and consulates too during Muharram.

The department says the Hotel Eye and Travel Eye shall be utilised for monitoring all rented houses, guesthouses, hotels and bus stations of every category.Besides checking and screening of all persons and vehicles, it directed enhancing drone surveillance in the Katcha areas.

It said that non-Shia processions and congregations should not be allowed in close proximity to Shia processions and congregations and added that activities of individuals linked to banned organisations, 4th Schedulers should be closely monitored.

The home department has asked all concerned to ensure that no speaker at majalis should make objectionable speeches against any sect. It called for gagging the resident and non-resident firebrand speakers.

Control rooms have been established at the home department as well as at divisional and district levels for reporting key events and incidents.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026