RAWALPINDI, Dec 24: Regional Police Officer DIG Nasir Khan Durrani on Wednesday outlining the code of conduct for Muharram said its implementation was the joint responsibility of all stakeholders.

Presiding over a meeting of Regional Peace Committee, Rawalpindi he said the code of conduct issued by Regional Police Office was aimed at avoiding creation of any issue and peaceful passage of Muharram.

He said that the code was the only way to curb the nefarious designs of the enemy and strengthen the unity and harmony between all sects.

The meeting was also attended by DPOs of Jhelum Waqar Chohan, Chakwal and Attock, SP Investigation Khurram Shahzad Waraich and a number of Ulema from the three districts of the region.

RPO briefed Ulema about the code of conduct in detail. He said that only one way should be allowed for entrance of mourners as well as for their exit on the occasion of processions and Majalis. No stranger or suspect should be allowed to enter in the procession. The timings of processions and Majalis might be observed at every cost. Proper lights and search lights be arranged at the time of Majalis to avoid any sabotage. Every mourner should be searched thoroughly before his entry in procession and Majalis.

The respect of the times of Azan and prayers must be maintained during mourning procession and Majalis. Management of every procession should visit the procession route along with the police officials and the cooperation might be extended to the police in making security arrangements of processions and Majalis. Furthermore, no Zakir or Alim whose entry is banned in the district should be invited to deliver the speech and no fiery speaker should be allowed to address the mourners to avoid any untoward incident.

Car parking for the participants of every Majlis should be arranged two hundred yards away from Majlis site.

He appealed to the scholars of various sects that tolerance should be shown and should join hands with the government to fight terrorism.

Ulema assured RPO of extending full cooperation in implementation of code of conduct and maintaining law & order situation so that Muharram could be passed in a peaceful manner like the previous years. RPO admired the spirit of Ulema for giving assurance to make level best efforts for Ittehad-i-Bainul Muslimeen as it was dire need of the time.

Arrangements: The tehsil municipal officers (TMOs), departments of the local administration and service providers have been directed to ensure necessary facilities and make arrangements on the routes of Azadari processions and places of Majalis during Muharram.

The city district government Rawalpindi should ensure coordination between all departments concerned, including police, and make arrangements before the beginning of Muharram.

These instructions were issued during a meeting presided over by EDO (Revenue) Rawalpindi Mohammad Asif Qureshi on behalf of DCO Rawalpindi Imdadullah Bosal which was held to review security and other arrangements including provision of first aid, cleanliness, availability of drinking water, presence of all emergency teams on the routes of the Muharram processions and Majalis.

The representative officers of departments of the city district government, tehsil municipal administration and service providing departments attended the meeting.

The EDO (Revenue) asked all tehsil municipal officers, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and other departments concerned to ensure repair of roads, clean routes of Azadari processions and cover open manholes.

He said loadshedding schedule should be re-adjusted by Wapda in areas of the Markazi and main Azadari processions to avoid inconvenience to the Azadaris.

He directed the health department and emergency services to ensure presence of medical aid teams, ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and other necessary equipment to confront any kind of emergency on the occasion of processions and Majalis.

Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has been asked to make arrangements of drinking water on the routes of the processions.

Mr Qureshi said emergency camps of the city district government would be established at Committee Chowk, Murree Road, Rawalpindi, Fawara Chowk (Kotwali Chowk) and Shah Nazar Dewan Bridge where teams of all departments concerned would be available besides those teams moving along with the Markazi procession of Muharram.

The fire brigade and rescue teams of Emergency 1122 would also be present on the occasion.

He called upon all departments concerned to make efforts to facilitate the Muharram processions.

The authorities concerned have been asked to remove all kinds of wall chalking especially writings/slogans that spark sectarianism and have warned of stern action against people involved in the provocative literature.

Mr Qureshi told Dawn that necessary arrangements along the routes of the processions would be ensured and code of conduct prepared by Ittihad Bainul Muslimeen Committee would be implemented in letter and spirit.

He asked the TMOs to obtain undertaking from the owners about the inmates of the houses, plazas and shops which were rented out and were situated along side the road on the route of the procession.

He also directed the tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs) to establish control rooms to maintain liaison for making arrangements during Muharram.