Provinces call in army for Ashura security
According to Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, 72 companies had been deployed in Punjab, 20 in Sindh, 12 each in NWFP and Balochistan, eight in Northern Areas and three in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD: The Army has been deployed across the country to maintain law and order in the wake of threat of attacks on Ashura processions.
Military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas told Dawn on Saturday that 127 companies had been deployed in the entire country — 72 of them in Punjab alone.
He said the army deployment followed requests from provinces.
He said the army would serve as a ‘third line of force’ after police and rangers and troops would remain on call to act when required.
The army will remain deployed according to the level of sensitivity of districts. The strength of troops and duration of their deployment would depend on the situation, he added.
Giving a breakdown of the deployment, he said 72 companies had been deployed in Punjab, 20 in Sindh, 12 each in NWFP and Balochistan, eight in Northern Areas and three in Islamabad.
He said sensitive districts had been identified and divided into categories in accordance with the level of sensitivity.
The country has unfortunately seen sectarian violence during the month of Muharram for some years. But this time special security arrangements are being made keeping in view the military operations in different parts of the country and a possible reaction from militants.
According to sources, there is a threat of attacks on main mourning processions.
Official sources said that strict security plans had been chalked out for Islamabad and other parts of the country amid fresh wave of terrorism. They said close circuit cameras had been installed at various points and fire brigade, hospitals, police and other security agencies had been put on high alert.
Security in and around all the major cities has been beefed up. Metal detectors and other equipment have been installed at various points.
Army troops would remain at stand-by in aid of police and their services would be utilised in case of any untoward happening. Police would guard Imambargahs and the routes of processions.
Extraordinary security cover will be provided to religious leaders along the routes of processions, imambargahs and places of Majalis.
Quick Response Force, Anti-terrorist Squad and 82 police commandos, along with more than 7,000 cops, were deployed on various locations of the capital. Certain sensitive areas have been identified in the city and security has been tightened in these areas.
Various locations in Islamabad were barricaded and barbed wire was placed around sensitive points and offices.
Sources said that more than 12,000 policemen would provide security cover to 4,000 Majalis and 640 processions in Lahore.
In Quetta, 4,000 security personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order.
Strict security measures have been taken in Karachi, where more than 1,200 processions are to be taken out on Ashura day.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, walk-through gates will be installed at sensitive points and different areas will be monitored through close circuit cameras.
In Peshawar, a strict security plan has been chalked out, under which the city has been divided into three zones.
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