Oct 30, 2014
The government has decided to impose a ban on pillion riding and suspend mobile phone service on the 9th and 10th of Muharram in the provincial metropolis to maintain peace and law and order, officials said on Wednesday. The notification to this effect will be issued within days.
According to Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Muhammad Amin Wains, women, children and senior citizens will be exempted from the ban on pillion riding. Earlier, the police department requested the government to suspend mobile services and impose a ban on pillion riding for at least two days in Lahore to ensure security. "We have identified at least 37 buildings (on the route of the main procession) where snipers will be employed to keep a check on the activities of the miscreants and militants," the Lahore police chief told reporters during a special visit to route of the main procession on Wednesday.
He further said that no less than 300 CCTV cameras were being installed on the route of the main procession to ensure close monitoring. The security situation of the main procession would also be monitored from the sky with the help of a helicopter on the eve of Ashura. "All the senior police officers including myself will escort the main procession of Ashura, For this purpose, the police are directed to ensure fourlayer security," Muhammad Amin Wains added. Responding to a question, he said that at least 10,000 policemen were deployed across the provincial metropolis from the first day of Muharram. We will also employ additional police force in some parts of the city on the eve of Ashura, he said.
"Already, a code of conduct has been devised for the holy month of Muharram under which we have also imposed a ban on hate speeches pertaining to religious identity," the CCPO said. The police and other law enforcement agencies are also directed to keep a close eye on the suspected persons and ensure strict action against the violators since a ban had been imposed on provocative speeches, literature, and wall-chalking.
The government is taking unprecedented security steps to maintain law and order during the holy month of Muharram with massive deployment of security personnel across the Punjab province, in addition to 135000 strong provincial police, the paramilitary troops and Elite police commandoes would remain on standby to meet any untoward happening. He also said that police and district administration would remain on high-alert and they would utilize all their energies to maintain peace and tranquility in the provincial capital.
(The Nation)
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