Muharram security arrangements are lacking since police have not arranged sufficient metal detectors to conduct search of people at sensitive areas.
Sources said that before the onset of Muharram, the top police management had asked all district police officers to take precautionary measures to cope with potential suicide bombers. But no special arrangements could be seen in the first nine days of Muharram. Instead, the department beefed up security for its officers after the Peshawar blast on Jan 27 wherein the Peshawar police chief and others were killed.
A police officer said: “We have been directed by the authorities to be watchful and enhance our own security keeping in view the police causalities in the Peshawar blast. But we have also taken excellent security measures for the mourners.” Police officers had been asked to stay away from public gatherings, he added.
In connection with Muharram security, the sources said, it was decided that all senior police officials and their subordinates would be given a revolver and 25 bullets each. However, many policemen had no additional bullets because of one reason or the other, they added.
Organisers of majalis have also shown no-confidence in police and arranged their own security. The sources said the organisers conducted body search of the participants some feet from the processions or majalis.
Only one scanner was installed at the Dhobi Ghat ground that was insufficient as scores of people had to queue up to enter the majlis premises.
“Policemen deployed at sensitive points, which include imambargahs, don’t have metal detectors,” the sources said.
A procession organiser told Dawn that police had asked them to check women mourners at Dhobi Ghat Ground, but they had no metal detector to search them.
Faisalabad has been declared sensitive because of the presence of sectarian activists and banned organisations’ activists.
This correspondent observed that no policemen accompanied processions, even though station house officers were directed to remain with the processions until mourners were dispersed.
People from all walks of life denounced the policy of sealing major markets ahead of Ashura. Earlier, they said, traders were never forced to down their shutters on Muharram 7 and 8.
A police officer said that piles of garbage lying on roads could be turned booby-traps as terrorists could place explosives there.
Meanwhile, in a crackdown on `strangers’ on Monday night, the security forces picked up seven people from a local hotel. Sources said the arrested belonged to Bajaur and could not tell purpose of their visit to the city.