LAHORE, March 1: The city district government on Saturday decided to impose ban on playing audio and video cassettes containing provocative speeches of religious scholars to maintain peace during Muharram.

This was decided at a meeting of law-enforcing agencies, with District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood in chair, to review arrangements for maintaining peace during the Ashura.

District Coordination Officer Khalid Sultan, SSP Operations Aftab Cheema, other SPs and EDOs attended the meeting.

The high-ranking officials decided to make maximum security arrangements around the venues of the majalis-i-Aza and zuljinnah procession routes during Ashura.

The health department was directed to make ambulances available near the processions and near venues of major majalis. Fire brigade and civil defence bomb disposal squads were also directed to remain alert.

The Nazim directed the peace committees’ members to ensure their presence at all the gatherings and the zuljinnah processions and inform the administration of any potential threat. It was also decided to activate the peace committees at the town, police station and union council level with the cooperation of the religious scholars and social workers.

The government has planned to take steps for checking the publication of provocative sectarian literature in the city district, where publishers would be asked to inform the authorities about the receipt of any objectionable literature for publication.