KARACHI, Jan 29: Director General Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Major General Javed Zia divided the city into three security zones to ensure effective coordination between the police and the rangers on the eve of Ashura processions.

A press release issued here on Monday said the division of the city into three zones with independent command and control in respective zones and a central monitoring mechanism at the highest level would enhance the security measures in order to deal with any untoward happenings.

It said the rangers and police had evolved a comprehensive security plan encompassing all details to ensure peace and security of Moharram processions to be taken out from different parts of the city.

According to the release, 12,000 rangers personnel had been deployed in various localities o the city and along the processions routes. Moreover, reserve contingents were deployed at sensitive imambargahs and mosques.

The press release stated that the DG Rangers had raised a reserve force under his direct command which was on alert. The specialised Anti-terrorist Force, a wing of Sindh Rangers, has also been deployed along the routes of the main processions and is keeping a vigilant watch, it said.

It is pertinent to mention that rangers sniffing dogs which were recently procured from Germany are being employed along the routes of procession to detect explosive materials. Sindh Rangers is in constant touch with Pakistan Army in order to avert any possible troubles well in time.

The press release said the security steps initiated by the rangers had further beefed up the security measures of Sindh police.

It said that in the wake of intelligence reports the rangers was taking effective security measures for the safety of religious scholars and leaders. The DG also appealed to all segments of society to extend all help to the law enforcement agencies to thwart anti-state elements.

The press release said special measures have been adopted by Indus Rangers (Nawabshah), Shahbaz Rangers (Sukkur), Qasim Rangers (Hyderabad) in their respective areas. It said rangers pickets had been established all along the Sindh, Balochsitan and Punjab belt and patrolling and snap checking intensified.

Meanwhile, the DG visited all sensitive areas of the city and reviewed security arrangements.