LAHORE, Feb 7: Security arrangements for Muharram were discussed at a City District Government meeting held at the Jinnah Hall here on Monday with District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood in the chair.

The District Nazim said that a control room would be established at his office for monitoring security arrangements around the 'imambargahs' and along the routes of processions of mourners during Muharram.

He said that police, Lesco, solid waste management and town officers would be present at the control room round-the-clock for dealing with the law and order situations.

The CDG, he said, would not allow setting up of 'sabeels' along the procession routes without police clearance. Fire brigade, bomb disposal squad, district health department and Rescue 1122 ambulances would escort all the processions. The CDG would also ensure compliance of the code of ethics in respect of use of amplifiers in mosques and 'imambargahs'.

He directed the Lahore SSP to inspect the routes of Ashura processions along with officials of Wasa, SWM and other concerned departments for ensuring immediate removal of encroachments, patchwork and streetlights repairs. Similar steps should be taken by the Town Nazims.

The District Nazim also ordered closure of the roads on which 'majalis-i-aza' were to be held or Ashura processions were to be taken out and proper notification of alternative routes.

The meeting was attended by DCO Khalid Sultan, Lesco chief engineer Akram Arain, Lahore SSP Aftab Cheema, SP (Security) Raja Riffat, Data Ganj Bakhsh Town Nazim Tariq Sana Bajwa, Ravi Town coordinator Mian Tala'at Ahmed and EDO (Works) Chaudhry Muhammad Arif.