Special security measures have been implemented across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Muharram, with 40,000 security personnel deployed to maintain law and order. In Peshawar alone, 14,000 police officers and officials are on duty. Eight districts have been designated as the most sensitive.
Today, on the 8th of Muharram, the main Zuljanah procession will commence from Imambargah Syed Najaf Ali Shah in Kochi Bazaar. A total of 25 Majlis will be held in the city, and over 10 smaller processions will take place within their respective areas.
Strict security arrangements are in place, with 14,000 police officers and officials ensuring safety. Indore city is completely sealed off for the procession. The Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) will clear the area beforehand. Police blockades have been set up at city entrances and exits. Monitoring through CCTV cameras in a central control room enhances security measures.
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Yesterday, a high-level meeting chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur reviewed security and other arrangements for Muharram. The meeting focused on maintaining peace and order. Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Abid Majeed, Inspector General Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, administrative secretaries, and other senior officials participated. Divisional Commissioners, Regional Police Officers, Deputy Commissioners, and District Police Officers from across the province joined via video link.
The briefing revealed that Muharram events will be held in fourteen districts, with eight declared as most sensitive and six as sensitive regarding security. A total of 40,000 security personnel, including FC and special forces of the Pakistan Army, have been deployed to secure gatherings and processions.
A central control room in the Home Department will ensure effective monitoring of these events, with representatives from all law enforcement and security agencies present at all times. CCTV cameras will monitor meetings and processions. Additionally, a ban on weapon displays, double riding, and offensive wall chalking has been enforced.
Mobile service will be suspended in sensitive areas, and special duties have been assigned to health department and rescue staff for any emergencies. The Chief Minister emphasized the priority of maintaining law and order during Muharram and directed that all necessary financial resources for security be provided promptly. He also urged the involvement of scholars from all schools of thought and elected public representatives to maintain communal harmony.
Chief Minister Gandapur instructed the provision of "Sabeel" (refreshment stations) along procession routes on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of Muharram. He called for an effective coordination system between relevant institutions and departments at district, division, and provincial levels to ensure peace and order during Muharram.
