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Karachi, October 12, 2015 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that Moharram and local bodies election are taking place simultaneously. Therefore, our intelligence and law enforcing agencies have to be more vigil as the people of banned outfits have started emerging with new names. We have to stop them at any cost.
This he said while presiding over an extra-ordinary meeting on law and order in the context of Moharram ul Haram security arrangements right from Moharram 1 to chehlum. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan specially attended the meeting. The other participants include Senior Minister for Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah, provincial ministers Sohail Siyal, Syed Nasir Shah, Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Additional IGs AD Khwaja, Mushtaq Maher, Sanaullah Abbasi, heads of intelligence agencies and others.
The chief minister said that Mohrram majalis and processions start from first of Moharram and continue till Chehlum. Therefore, the security plan must be worked out accordingly. Apart from it, local bodies election process is also in progress. The security plan for the purpose must worked out.
The chief minister keeping in view security threats approved imposition of ban on pillion ridding for 8, 9 and 10 Moharram. The families, kids and elderly people would be exempted from the ban. He also directed the home department to coordinate with the federal government for suspension of mobile service.
He urged all the intelligence agencies, Rangers and police to be more vigil on the activities of banned outfits emerging under the new names. “They must be stopped from participating in election,” he urged.
DG Rangers Bilal Akbar said that after going through the Moharram history of last 7 years he has found and identified some 95 sensitive points in the city where special arrangements in coordination with police have been planned.
“The Rangers is also conducting a special operation in coordination with police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) against the activists of proscribed organisations and this would continue till Chehlum,” he said. He said that during the ban on pillion ridding special passes would be issued to media people for the coverage of processions and majalis.
The DG said that heli survillence of the procession would be conducted. “We would also use surveillance system of SUPARCO for security reasons,” he said. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan said that the divisional administration must hold meetings with KE for smooth power supply for street lights. “We cannot afford risk of darkness in the streets particularly on sensitive days,” he said. On this the chief minister directed chief secretary to coordinate with commissioner Karachi for the purpose.
Special Assistant to chief minister on Auqaf and Religious Affairs Dr Qayoom Soomro said that he was hold regular meetings with the ulemas of different sects so that code of conduct could be implemented in true letter and spirit. The chief minister said that he had already directed all the commissioners to form district peace committees through respective deputy commissioners. The Principal Secretary Mr Bullo said that he was in touch with all the DCs in compliance of CM directives the district committees have been formed and they are working properly.
The chief minister also directed the chief secretary to ensure presence of doctors, para medical staff and availability of medicines in the government hospitals. The local government hospitals should also make such arrangements as usual. The representatives of intelligence agencies briefed the meeting about the activities of banned outfits. They said that extra security arrangements may be made in Shikarpur, Khairpur, Shahdadkot.
The additional IG police Mr Mushtaq Maher said that 64,414 police personnel would perform security duties during Muharram. “The deployment of 41,090 policemen would be static, 5482 would be in pickets, 8,825 mobiles and 9,017 would be reserved. Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah appreciating Rangers, police and intelligence agencies said that during the last Moharram they had performed a wonderful job and “I am sure this time your strategy would also produce good results,” he hoped.
The chief minister urged the Rangers and police to work out a comprehensive security plan for local bodies election. “The first phase of the local bodies election has been started and it would be followed by two other phases. Therefore, we must have a good plan to control law and order,” he said.
For more information, contact:
Mr. Allah Bachayo Memon
Press Secretary
Chief Minister House
Tel: +92-21-99202019
Cell: +92-300-3524057 (Ext: 336)