l Safe City control room activated for real-time surveillance
l Geo-tagging of imambargah and procession routes completed, says interior ministry
l Punjab govt directs Pindi police to closely monitor social media activities

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Muharram processions and gatherings will be monitored digitally through drones while geo-tagging of all imambargahs, majalis venues and procession routes has been completed, according to an interior ministry statement.

The statement was issued after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired a meeting to review security arrangements for Muharram in the federal capital.

The statement said a special mobile application, ‘Mehfooz Muharram’, had also been launched, using which citizens could report any suspicious activity or individual or inadequate security arrangements. It will also have live location sharing and image sharing features.

It added that a central control room had been established at Safe City as part of security arrangements, and a “four-tier security cordon” would be implemented to ensure the protection of Muharram processions and gatherings.

Mr Naqvi directed that a four-tier security cordon be maintained for the protection of Muharram gatherings and processions and a comprehensive traffic plan be implemented.

“Naqvi ordered strict checking at the entry and exit points of all processions and religious gatherings,” the statement said, adding that he also instructed all relevant officers to remain in the field.

He directed relevant authorities to maintain “close coordination” with religious scholars to ensure law and order. “The code of conduct must be strictly enforced. A zero-tolerance policy should be adopted against provocative material,” the statement quoted him as saying.

During the meeting, Islamabad’s chief commissioner and the Islamabad inspector general of police briefed the minister about security arrangements.

They said a security audit of all religious gatherings and processions had been completed, Aman and Nigehban committees activated, and the Islamabad administration was in contact with religious scholars as well as the organisers of majalis and processions.

Separately, an official told Dawn that more than 15,000 security personnel had been deployed in the federal capital to ensure peace and security during Muharram processions and gatherings.

“Islamabad police have finalised a comprehensive security strategy, which will be in place from the first of Muharram to the nineteenth of Safar,” he said.

He stated that under the security plan, Islamabad police, Rangers and other law enforcement personnel would be deployed at sensitive routes and venues. The deployment was planned to ensure “maximum protection for the participants of religious events while maintaining civic order”, he added.

According to the official, more than 170 processions and around 930 majalis were expected to be held across the capital.

He said IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi was overseeing all security arrangements to ensure the strict implementation of the security plan.

“In addition, 10 vigilance teams have been formed to check the performance and deployment of security personnel on duty,” he said.

Senior officers, including deputy inspectors general, senior superintendents of police and assistant inspectors general have been assigned duties at various locations across the city to supervise arrangements on the ground, he said.

To strengthen surveillance, more than 3,000 CCTV cameras were being used to monitor processions and gatherings in real time and over 500 traffic police personnel have been deployed to manage traffic flow and minimise disruptions to daily commuting, the official said.

Rawalpindi

The Punjab government on Thursday directed local police and district administration to closely monitor social media activities. It said immediate action would be taken against individuals involved in uploading and disseminating hateful content.

It instructed all relevant departments to work in close coordination for the processions taking place in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, Murree and Attock. These instructions were conveyed by Provincial Minister for Communications and Works, Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth during an online meeting of the Rawalpindi Division local administration and police.

The minister was briefed on the arrangements being made in connection with Youm-i-Ashur.

Mr Bharth directed the officers to ensure effective arrangements along the routes of Youm-i-Ashur processions. He said special focus should be placed on security and monitoring at the entry and exit points of cities.

He also directed the Murree administration to closely monitor the inflow of vehicles and crowds entering the district. He also ordered the complete removal of wall chalking throughout the division.

Taxila

To ensure the availability of all civic facilities and security protocols, Assistant Commissioner Maria Javaid on Thursday visited highly sensitive declared Imambargah Pir Haider Shah in Taxila and central Imambargah Wah Cantt along with key procession routes to assess arrangements aimed at ensuring peaceful observance of Muharram.

During the visit, the assistant commissioner inspected sanitation measures, municipal services, and security infrastructure. Officials reported that cleanliness and civic facilities were satisfactory, while the functionality of surveillance cameras installed along sensitive locations and procession routes was also reviewed.

Police authorities briefed the assistant commissioner on the Muharram security plan, informing her that all security arrangements had been finalised.

Ms Maria directed all relevant departments to ensure uninterrupted delivery of municipal services, effective cleanliness measures, and strict implementation of security protocols.

— Amjad Iqbal also contributed to the story.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2026