RAWALPINDI: A large number of roads will be sealed with containers or razor wires during Muharram processions in the city.

Shoaib Khurram Janbaz, the city traffic officer, told Dawn that a traffic plan for Muharram processions had been finalised under which the roads would be sealed and police deployed in two tiers during the processions. There will be traffic wardens on the outer and the second cordons to ensure tightened security, the CTO said.

“There will be a curfew-like situation in the city as the police are not taking any chances on the eve of Ashura,” the CTO said, adding 900 processions and 1916 majalis were scheduled to be held during Muharram in the district. He said parking of vehicles on the procession routes would not be allowed.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014