RAWALPINDI: A total of 475 processions and 2,201 majalis, categorised as highly sensitive ‘A’, less sensitive ‘B’ and low sensitive ‘C’, will be held in the Rawalpindi district in Muharram.

In a move to check its preparedness regarding maintaining security during Muharram, the police conducted mock exercises at Imambargah Shah Chan Charagh located in the jurisdiction of Banni police and Imambargah Nasirul Aza in the Waris Khan area on Tuesday.

Elite Force commandos, bomb disposal squads, Rescue 1122 staff and Civil Defence team participated in the mock exercises. SP Rawal Division Saad Arshad supervised the police team.

A senior police official said that the categorisations were based on their sensitivity, vulnerability, previous history of clashes and the number of participants in the processions or majalis.

Over 7,000 law enforcement personnel deployed to ensure peace in district, say police

In the light of intelligence and prevailing security situation, the police have placed 55 processions in category A, 72 in category B and 348 processions in category C.

Likewise, out of 2,201 majalis, 274 have been placed in category A, 327 in category B and 1,600 in category C.

In the light of the security situation, more than 7,000 law enforcement personnel will be deployed to ensure peaceful conduct of processions and majalis.

The district administrations will establish a control centre in the Safe City Project building to monitor Zuljinnah processions via CCTV cameras.

The control room will ensure the implementation of security arrangements and standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the federal and provincial governments.

It may be recalled that Imambargah Qasr-i-Shabbir at Dhoke Syedan, which had been categorised as C, was targeted by a suicide bomber in November 2012, in which at least 15 people were killed and over 35 others injured.

Meanwhile, the City Traffic Police Murree has issued a special traffic plan for Muharram.

On the instructions of DPO Murree Dr Raza Tanveer Supra, Chief Traffic Officer Munir Ahmed Hashmi prepared the traffic plan, a spokesman for the police said.

Special traffic arrangements will be in place during majalis and processions in Murree, New Murree, Triet Syedan, Mohra Syedan, Bhamrot Syedan and other areas.

Additional traffic wardens have been deployed at the entry and exit routes of all processions, and special measures have been taken to maintain traffic flow.

The main procession of Muharram 10 in Taret Syedan will proceed on GT Road from 1pm until sunset. Traffic diversion will be implemented from Toll Plaza 17 Mile and Bansara Street during the Taret Syedan procession, the spokesman said.

Tourists and travelers coming from Rawalpindi and Islamabad should prefer the Murree Expressway to travel to and from Murree.

The main processions of Muharram 10 will be held at GPO Chowk, Main Mall Road and Lower Mall Road in Murree city. Processions coming from Imtiaz Shaheed Road and Lower Mall Road will converge at GPO Chowk.

Traffic movement around Lower Mall Road, Main Mall Road, Imtiaz Shaheed Road and GPO Chowk will be temporarily suspended during the processions.

Traffic entering Murree city from Lalazar Road and View Fourth Road will be diverted to alternative routes, the spokesman said, adding that citizens and tourists should use Kashmir Point Road, Bank Road, Kaldana Road and Cart Road as alternative routes.

The public should follow the instructions of the traffic police. Strict legal action will be taken against vehicles without number plates, tinted windows, and incomplete documents.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026