Punjab Cabinet Committee reviews Muharram security

DG KHAN, Jun 09 (APP):Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law and Order convened in Dera Ghazi Khan on Monday to review security arrangements for Muharram ul Haram.

Provincial Minister and Committee Chairman Khawaja Salman Rafiq presided over the session, which Co-Chairman Bilal Yasin and Provincial Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani attended. Senior officials, including Home Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, Additional IGP South Punjab Muhammad Kamran Khan, Additional IGP CTD Waseem Siyal and Additional Secretary Special Initiatives were also present.

RPO DG Khan Muhammad Azhar Ikram and Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmad Chaudhry briefed the participants on security measures and overall arrangements across the division.

Officials informed the meeting that all 1,396 processions and 4,505 majalis in DG Khan Division had been registered and their arrangements finalized. District restriction orders have been issued for 197 speakers, while 106 have been placed under a complete speech ban. A total of 264 individuals have been placed on the Fourth Schedule in DG Khan. Security plans have been drawn up for 4,746 Masajid, 607 imambargahs and 2,570 seminaries across the division. Seven Army companies and nine Rangers companies will be deployed to assist police.

Addressing the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafiq said extraordinary security measures are being ensured during Muharram and called on all schools of thought to observe the month with religious devotion and in a peaceful manner. He directed law enforcement agencies to ensure timely intelligence sharing and strict implementation of SOPs issued by the Home Department.

Bilal Yasin said peace committees across Punjab are playing an active and positive role, and observed that mosque imams are performing a vital function in spreading the message of peace. He directed authorities to ensure enforcement of Section 144 imposed on drone flying across the province.

Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani stressed the effective use of the Safe City network for monitoring processions and majalis, mandatory training of deployed volunteers, and uninterrupted power supply to maintain security.

The Home Secretary directed all districts to activate their cyber patrolling cells, stating that the central control room at the Home Department is receiving reports from across the province and that all deployed personnel must remain on duty until the conclusion of every procession and majalis.

District Police Officers and Deputy Commissioners from DG Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu and Rajanpur also participated and briefed the meeting.