Staff Reporter
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Sunday approved a ban on pillion riding in Karachi from the night of the 8th of Muharram till Ashur in order to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident.
In a meeting with officials of government and law enforcement agencies, the chief minister said that while he is not in favour of pillion riding, the recent murder of a doctor by motorcyclists has “forced him to take the decision”. In the rest of the province, the ban will be imposed on the 9th and 10th of the Islamic month.
He said that while there had been no major incident in Sindh in the past three years, the killing of the doctor shows that the government “still has a lot to do”.
“We have done our best in the restoration of law and order situation in the city (Karachi) but we still have to do a lot,” he told the attendees.
Shah also directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Syed Kaleem Imam to start ‘snap checking’ all over the province. He also approved the installation of extra CCTV cameras, that were used in the general elections last year and directed law enforcement agencies to deploy heavy forces of police and Rangers. He further said that 52 companies of Pakistan armed forces should be in reserve so that they could be called upon in case of emergency.
Director General Rangers Maj Gen Omer Ahmed Bokhari, while briefing the chief minister, said that out of the 52 army companies that will be deployed across the province, 14 will be posted in Karachi, five in Hyderabad, four in Mirpurkhas, three in Shaheed Benazirabad, 10 in Sukkur and 16 in Larkana divisions.
IG police Dr Kaleem Imam briefing the chief minister said that there were 2015 imambargahs in the province, including 590 in Hyderabad, 464 in Larkana, 374 in Sukkur, 342 in Karachi, 138 in Mirpurkhas and 107 in Shaheed Benazirabad divisions. He added that there would be 15,971 majalis all over Sindh, of them 1408 were most sensitive and 5199 sensitive.
The IGP said that 71485 policemen and women would perform duty during Moharramul Haram all over Sindh, including 7044 would be mobile force, 52725 static, 6539 to be deployed at police pickets and 5177 would be reserve.
Dr Imam added that 3793 mobiles, APCs, and motorcycles would participate in the deployment all over Sindh, of them 1652 in Karachi, 934 in Hyderabad Division, 210 in Mirpurkhas, 249 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 305 in Sukkur and 443 in Larkana division.
In Sindh 6288 Matmi processions are taken out, of them 439 have been declared as most sensitive and 1788 sensitive. Apart from them 737 Tazia processions are held, of them nne have been declared as most sensitive and 242 sensitive.
IG Police told the meeting that air surveillance would be conducted from 8thMoharram of 21 different place of Karachi, six of Hyderabad division, one at Shaheed Benazirabad, seven at Sukkur and five in Larkana division. Similarly, 93 mobile phone jammers would be installed all over Sindh. Some 856 containers have been obtained to block some roads leading to procession.
Traffic arrangement: He said that 1022 traffic policemen would be deployed in the province which include five SSPs, 11 DSPs, 13 inspectors, 334 NGOs, 164 HCs and 495 PCs. Adl IG Karachi: Adl IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon briefing the meeting about security plan in Karachi said that 9thMoharram procession starts at 12 noon from Nishtar Park. It route would be Nishtar Park, Guru Mandar – New M.A Jinnah Road and Namze Zihrain would be offered at VVIP Gate of Mazar-e-Quaid. Then the procession would pass through Peoples Roundabaout, New M.A Jinnah Road, Saddar Dawakhan, Empress Market, Regal Chowk, Tibet Center, Plastic Market to Hussainian Iraninan Imambargah. There would over 30,000 mourners in the procession.
Talking about 10 Moharram procession, the Adl IG Karachi said that it would start from Nishatar Park. The route would be the same but Nimaze Zihrain would be offered at Tibet Center at 1.30pm. The procession would be end at Hussianina Iranian Imambrgah at 1800 hours. There would be more then 50,000 mourners.
