Punjab Minister for Communication and Works Ali Afzal Sahi has said that under the direction of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the Punjab government has taken extraordinary security measures to maintain peace on the day of Ashura.
He said this while holding a meeting with the Faisalabad district administration and the members of the district peace committee at the circuit house.
He said that there is no room for any lapses in the security arrangements on Ashura day; therefore, strict security measures should be ensured from every angle of the processions and majalis.
The provincial minister emphasized the deployment of additional staff at sensitive processions and said that senior officers of the district administration and police should remain in the field and keep a close eye on all issues. He said that the force should be deployed on buildings located on the routes of Ashura processions, and all the devices should be functional in all respects.
He said that there should be no interruption in the monitoring of security measures from the control room, and the staff of various departments should show immediate response to any incident reported while not delaying the resolution of the problem. He also urged strict implementation of the Muharram code of conduct. He said that hospitals’ medical emergency services should be kept on high alert, and attendance of doctors and medical staff should be ensured as well as adequate provision of medicines. The provincial minister said that he will monitor the Muharram arrangements till Ashura day on the instructions of the chief minister of Punjab.
The provincial minister appreciated the ongoing efforts of the members of the district peace committee in relation to the establishment of peace. He said that for the promotion of religious tolerance and harmony, the Punjab government under the leadership of the scholars has taken the best steps.
Giving a briefing, Deputy Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh said that all administrative and security measures are on alert for the 9th and 10th Muharram. He added that 1,281 processions and 444 majalis are taking place during Ashura Muharram in a peaceful manner. CPO Malik Umar Saeed gave a briefing on the security arrangements. Divisional Commissioner Zahid Hussain and RPO Moen Masood also gave detail on security and administrative matters.
