KARACHI, March 18: New police checkposts will be set up across the city, especially in sensitive areas, to beef up security arrangements during Muharram, a senior police official said on Monday.

New checkposts would also be set up in areas where Muharram processions pass through or originate, said city police chief Asad Jehangir.

He told Dawn that more than 100 new kiosks would be set up to keep an eye on anti-social elements in the city.

The police checkposts which were not in use would also be manned by police and personnel of other law-enforcement agencies.

The city police chief said additional police force would be deployed during Muharram to ensure peace. He said the IG Sindh had agreed to provide reinforcement which would help man police kiosks even after Muharram.

Security has also been beefed up at churches and temples in the city.

Another senior police officer said a contingency plan for ensuring peace on Ashura had also been prepared.

At several meetings between police highups and religious scholars it had been agreed that law and order would be maintained at all costs and strict vigilance would be exercised to guard against the activities of mischievous elements.

A senior police official told Dawn that all the available police strength had been called on emergency duty by cancelling their leaves to meet any eventuality, especially during Muharram. “We are on red alert,” he added.

Meetings with Ulema of different schools of thought had also been held to ensure peace and tranquillity during Muharram in the city.

He said special police pickets had been set up at various points in the city, especially in sensitive areas and along the processions’ routes. The police stations had been instructed to undertake increased patrolling using armoured personnel carriers, vans and motorcycles in their areas and to keep a constant vigil on mischievous elements.

He said SHOs and DSPs had been instructed to remain on duty round the clock and not to leave their offices. Police had also been deployed on rooftops of several buildings situated along the routes of processions.