RAWALPINDI, Nov 11: Following reports that terrorists may strike during Muharram, army personnel and Rangers have been called and law-enforcement agencies have been asked to be on ‘high alert’ across Punjab and the Islamabad capital territory, Dawn has learnt.

The district administration and police have requested the Punjab home department to deploy 10 companies of the army and three companies of Rangers, in addition to 15 platoons of the Punjab Constabulary, to assist local police during Muharram. The Capital Territory Police have also made a request for the army’s deployment to assist the local police as extensive search of the procession route has already started.

Senior Superintendent of Islamabad Police Yasin Farooq confirmed to Dawn that a letter had been sent to the ministry of interior seeking the deployment of army units which would be on call during Muharram.

He said an under-construction mosque and an Imambargah in Sector G-7/3 were sealed under Section 144 of CrPC to avoid tensions between Sunnis and Shias.

The City Police Officer, Rawalpindi, Azhar Hameed Khokhar, said a request had been made for the deployment of army personnel and Rangers, while 350 policemen, who were under training in Lahore, had also been called.

He said a cabinet committee set up by the Punjab chief minister would visit Rawalpindi on Monday to review the security arrangements.

The Punjab Home Department has directed the provincial police chief and regional police chiefs to put the suspected terrorists on their watch list if they were not found at their home addresses.

In addition to the police, the Punjab Home Department requires the Special Branch and the Counter-Terrorism Department to maintain law and order “before, during and after Muharram, a holy month for the Muslims which often sees sectarian violence.

Immediate steps be taken to ensure foolproof security of all places of worship, including mosques, Imambargahs, Majalis and processions”, said the guidelines issued by the home department.

It asked the district administration and police to place their vigilance level at ‘high alert’. All arrangements should be monitored by the district coordination officers and district police officers regularly and the same should be done by the commissioner and regional police officers, the guidelines said.

Police have been ordered to launch a crackdown on the use of ‘fake green number plates’ on vehicles and enforce a ban on display of arms.

“Misuse of loudspeakers must be checked by the police and objectionable, offensive posters, wall-chalking and slogans should be removed,” said the guidelines.