Muharram processions; 12,000 personnel of LEAs to perform security duties

The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) Saturday put security on high alert in the federal capital and deployed over 12,000 personnel in connection with security arrangements during Muharram-ul-Haram processions.
The government has also put army troops on standby under the Article 245 of the Constitution to act in aid of the civil law enforcement agencies. A senior official of the police said that the 12,000 security personnel have been deployed including personnel of Rangers and Frontier Constabulary for guarding over 909 majalis (gatherings) and 177 processions.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior on September 4, "In exercise of powers conferred under the Article 245 of the Constitution, the ministry is pleased to authorize the deployment of 350 Pakistan Army troops (standby) to act in aid to civil powers, subject to laws in force in Pakistan during Muharram."
The main procession will be taken out from Markazi Imambargah in G-6/2 on 9th Muharram and will culminate at the same venue after passing through traditional route. He said that the routes of the main procession of 'Ashura' will be sealed completely through razor wires as well as concrete blocks, adding that streets leading to the main processions will also be barricaded.
The official said that according to the security plan, closed circuit television cameras (CCTV), scanners and walkthrough gates will be installed at various routes of processions. The LEAs would also conduct aerial surveillance through helicopter of majalis and processions, he added. He said that under the security plan, the police would conduct checking of participants of gatherings and processions thorough using metal detectors. Under the plan, five-layer security arrangements will be made at the main procession, covering three to four kilometers radius around the procession.
Islamabad Traffic Police have made special traffic plan to avoid any inconvenience to road users and special deployment will be made for smooth flow of traffic at alternate routes when processions will be taken out.