FAISALABAD, Feb 8: All security arrangements have been finalized by the local administration and police for Ashura. Police and the administration in close coordination with the peace committee have taken elaborate security measures. Army is also present in the city to assist the police.

Punjab Communication Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan along with police and other officials will monitor arrangements for all processions on Youm-i-Ashur (today).

As many as 442 processions and Majalis will be held in various parts of the city. The main Muharram procession will be taken out from Azakhana-e-Shabbiria Husainpura. All other processions will join the main procession. Shia scholars will highlight the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his family members. A special Majlis will be held at Asr after the procession will reach at Clock Tower. Traditional Sabeels will be set up along the routes of Muharram processions to supply free milk and water to mourners.

GUJRANWALA:

District Coordination Officer Manzher Hayat visited the routes of Zuljinnah procession and an imambargah on College Road here on Wednesday.

VEHARI: The district administration and police have been put on high alert and extraordinary security measures are being taken especially in sensitive areas to avert any untoward incident.

Vehari District Nazim Syed Shahid Mehdi here on Tuesday imposed a ban on pillion riding while women, children and old people had been exempted. Through another directive, the nazim has banned carrying of arms, wall-chalking, publication and distribution of hatred literature.

Meanwhile, rural health centres and basic health units of the district are short of medicines. The tehsil municipal administrations had been assigned with tasks of water sprinkling and installation of streetlights along the procession routes. Funds for the purpose had not been provided to the administration.