The Ministry of Interior has granted permission for the deployment of armed forces across the country during Muharram-ul-Haram. The approval for military deployment is under Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The Ministry of the Interior issued a notice on the deployment of armed forces nationwide. According to the announcement, the army will be deployed to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order. The deployment of the army will take place in accordance with the ground conditions of the respective provinces.
The governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have requested military deployment during Muharram-ul-Haram. Requests were also made from Azad Kashmir and Islamabad for military deployment in Mecca. Earlier, the federal interior ministry had approved military deployment during Muharram-ul-Haram in Sindh. Sindh Home Ministry contacted military officials and prepared a plan for military deployment in Makkah.
On the other hand, security has been beefed up across the province, including Lahore, for the start of Muharram-ul-Haram. More than 43,000 officers and security force personnel will be deployed in the province. Today, 63 funeral processions and more than 3,200 gatherings will be held in the province.
The Inspector General of Punjab said that high alert will be maintained throughout the province during the Muharram-ul-Haram period. The Punjab government will ensure strict implementation of Section 144 to determine fixed routes and places. Permissions for processions and assemblies will not be granted anywhere except on designated routes and places and efforts will be made to ensure suppression of elements involved in spreading hate material on social media.
Security arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram include deployment of CTD, Special Branch, Traffic Police, Dolphin Squad and other field formations. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi today convened an important meeting regarding security arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram. The meeting will review measures to protect life and property of the public during Muharram-ul-Haram and also review the security plan for processions and gatherings. Police IG Islamabad, Ali Naseer Rizvi will brief on the security plan for Muharram-ul-Haram.
