KOHAT, March 23: The local administration has banned the entry of all the Afghan refugees into the city limits as part of strict security measures to ensure peace on the 9th and 10th of Muharram ul Harram.

It has also been decided to stop commuters from travelling to Kohat from Kurram Agency on the same dates and not to allow outsiders to join the Muharram processions here.

The assistant superintendent of Kohat police, Nisar Khan Tanoli said on Saturday that this year there was no sectarian tension in the area but there existed a potential threat of terrorism for which a company of army’s 69 Baloch has been asked to patrol the city during Muharram.

Moreover, a company of Swat scouts has also been put at the disposal of the local police whose services could be utilized in case of any untoward incident.

The high officials of police and the army were conducting flag march in the city twice a day to check the alertness of the troops deployed at various sensitive points, he informed.

Meanwhile, a high-level meeting attended by the district coordination officer, Tariq Jamil, Zila Nazim, Malik Asad, senior superintendent of police, Zikria reviewed the security for 9th and 10 th of Muharram and expressed its satisfaction over the arrangements.