HARIPUR, March 22: All necessary and fool-proof arrangements have been made to maintain law and order in Haripur District, and to ensure maximum protection to the life and property of the people during Muharram.

Law enforcing agencies and the civil administration of the district was following a contingency plan, Haripur Police Superintendent Police said.

He was giving a briefing to the general officer commanding (GOC), 07   Division, Peshawar, Maj-Gen Nizakat Ali Khan, at the District Nazim Office here on Thursday. The GCO had a brief visit to the district for reviewing the law and order in Muharram. 

Brig Khalid Rabbani, commander, 102 Brigade, Peshawar; Raja Amer Zaman; District Nazim Riaz Khan; Naib Nazim Jehanzeb Khan; DCO Iftikhar Ahmed; Nazim Syed Qasim Shah and other civil and military officers concerned were also present on the occasion.

He was apprised of the prevailing law and order situation in the district as well as the measures taken by the administration to avoid any untoward incident in Muharram.

Later the GOC spoke to the peace committee, and called upon it for forging unity in people’s ranks, saying that the present critical situation, both at international frontiers and interior level as well, demanded us to shun our sectarian prejudices and promote religious harmony.

It was due to the killings of 12 persons by the accused belonging to the Shia sect in village Sikandarpur in December 1999, the Haripur district has reportedly been put on high alert.