KARACHI, Jan 12: The Provincial Police Officer, Sindh, Jehangir Mirza, on Friday issued directives to all security agencies to ensure effective security during Muharram. He issued the directives to Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karachi, Regional Police Officers Hyderabad and Sukkur, Additional IGP Special Branch Sindh, DIG Police, DIG CID and all DIGPs (Operations) Sindh.

Mr Mirza said they should ensure establishment of peace committees in consultation with city/district nazims and contacts with the leaders of both the schools of thought.

He said a code of conduct be evolved and implemented in letter and spirit.

The IGP directed that unscrupulous elements should be kept under constant vigil and preventive arrests, if deemed necessary, may be carried out.

Similarly, entry of all undesirable maulvis/zakirs or firebrand speakers should be banned in consultation with nazims and lists of those belonging to other provinces should be sent to him while home secretary be requested to ban their entry to this province, he ordered.

He said wall-chalking, pamphlets or playing cassettes containing objectionable speeches should not be allowed. In this regard, policy of zero tolerance should be exercised. Besides unnecessary spectators should not be allowed on the route of processions, he added. Police protection should be provided to prominent Shia leaders both during their movement and at their residences.

He directed that as a measure of proactive policy, special campaigns should be launched for recovery of arms and ammunition before Muharram, while ban on arms display should be strictly implemented under Section 144.

The IGP directives said that hotels and other public places should be thoroughly combed before and during Muharram.

He directed that in all major cities, bomb disposal squad be kept ready round-the-clock to effectively respond to any eventuality.

The IGP further directed that misuse of loudspeaker should be effectively checked especially during Muharram and asked to finalise a comprehensive contingency plan and send the same to him by January 13.—APP