ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: Twenty-two cities have been declared sensitive on the eve of Yaum-i-Ashur and army has been asked to help the civil administration in maintaining law and order.

Interior ministry sources said that unprecedented security measures had been taken to avert any untoward incident on Thursday.

A crisis management cell has been set up to monitor the law and order situation round the clock.

Special cells have also been set up in the offices of home secretaries.

The cities declared sensitive are Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Jhang, Multan, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Mardan, Attock, Kohat, D.I. Khan, Hyderabad, Lar-kana, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Quetta, Dera Bugti and Sargodha.

Closed-circuit cameras have been installed in these cities to monitor the mourning processions. Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in several other cities.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has directed all the district nazims to play their role in maintaining law and order on the Ashura day.—Online