PESHAWAR, Jan 10: The NWFP government has declared seven districts in the province sensitive and taken stringent measures to maintain law and order during congregations and processions during Muharram.

Briefing journalists at the Media Centre here on Thursday, caretaker Information Minister Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani said the government had consulted representatives of different sects and sought their guidance for maintaining peace during the month.

He said the security agencies had declared Peshawar, Kohat, Hangu and Dera Ismail Khan as most sensitive and Haripur, Tank and Mansehra as sensitive districts. He said the government had taken pre-emptive measures to maintain peace and harmony.

Mr Gilani said the caretaker chief minister had already issued instructions for maintaining peace and tranquillity during the month. He said the provincial police chief and all the police range officers had briefed the meeting about the situation.

He said police would be responsible for maintaining law and order in the province and paramilitary troops would remain alert to support them.

He said army would be called in if the civilian administration deemed it fit.He said the government had banned brandishing weapons and pillion riding under Section 144 CrPC during the first 10 days of Muharram.

He said inter-provincial and inter-district movement of some clerics known for delivering provocative sermons had been banned. Distribution of hate material and wall-chalking had also been banned across the province.

Mr Gilani said police had been asked to confine the Afghan refugees to their camps and keep a vigil on hotels. He asked people to help the security forces in their efforts.

He denied that the government was going to ban electioneering by candidates in the most sensitive districts. He expressed the hope that the political parties would play a role in the maintaining harmony among different sections of society.

In reply to a question, he said the security agencies had updated the list of the clerics under watch.

He denied an allegation that the government had paid clerics to seek their cooperation.

In reply to a question, Home Secretary Badshah Gul Wazir said the Fata secretariat was responsible for law and order in Kurram Agency. He said security forces had taken positions on hilltops and other vantage points in order to check the activities of those out to attack Muharram meetings.