Zubair Qureshi
Hospitals in Islamabad—The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Polyclinic and others have been put on high alert for the provision of medical facilities on Muharram 9 and 10. Meanwhile, the metro bus service is also suspended between Rawalpindi and Islamabad to ensure security during Ashura.
On the recommendation of the intelligence agencies and to keep law and order in the twin cities during the Muharram Ashura, the bus would be suspended, said officials of the Islamabad Police and the Rawalpindi Police department on Monday. In Rawalpindi, Muharram procession will pass from Bhabara Bazaar to Committee Chowk – on Murree Road – under the elevated section of the metro, which could pose a security threat.
Meanwhile, the city administration also suspended the metro bus service after Maghrib prayer on Muharram 7 (Sunday) due to processions in the different parts of the garrison city.
According to a Punjab Mass-Transit Authority official, the local administration asked the management of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service to stop the bus service on Tuesday evening, as the route of the procession would be sealed a day ahead of Ashura.
An official of the district government said the Metro Bus Service would be suspended on Ashura, adding that the measures had been taken for security reasons.
“Due to vacation and closure of the twin cities on Ashura, the bus passengers will not be available as well,” he said and added that the bus service would start from July 18, Thursday morning (Muharram 11) as per routine. He said that the police would be deployed on the elevated track to protect the mourners and the sensitive sites.
Meanwhile, the PIMS, Polyclinic, Federal General Hospital in ChakShehzad, and the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (Nims) will remain on high alert to deal with any type of emergency.
The decision was taken on the instructions of the PM’s health aide, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed. According to a statement, the health aide directed the hospitals to implement special preventive measures, such as ensuring the availability of all necessary medicines in emergency departments.
The heads of these federal government-run hospitals have been instructed to ensure essential arrangements, such as maintaining vacant beds in a ready state to handle any emergencies.
