ISLAMABAD: A comprehensive security plan with an appeal to all the religious leaders to create harmony and avoid any remarks which may hurt the sentiments of others was unveiled here on Monday that would help maintain peace in the month of Muharram.
A meeting was held at the Ministry of Interior under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Rehman Malik to review the arrangements for the month of Muharram. The meeting was attended by the secretary interior, all the provincial home secretaries, inspector generals of police, Rangers (Punjab & Sindh) director generals, Frontier Constabulary (Khyber & Balochistan) inspector general, Islamabad chief commissioner and IGP and representatives of intelligence agencies.
The meeting decided that no person would be allowed to make any speech, which can instigate sectarian tension. Inter-Provincial movement of firebrand religious speakers would be discouraged and they would not be allowed to deliver speech. Snipers would be detailed in the tension-ridden areas while aerial surveillance would be continued from 1st to 10th of Muharram.
The meeting further decided that curfew would be imposed in most tense areas to ensure peace and tranquility. Any location desired for any aggression would be identified beforehand and tension areas would be prioritized while army would remain stand-by to deal with any untoward incident.
The meeting agreed that home secretaries/IGPs would hold meetings with local religious leaders and issue joint declarations for sectarian harmony. A high-powered committee of notable Shia and Sunni, political and religious leaders would be formed in each area.
Intelligence agencies were directed to share real time intelligence with the concerned provinces.
Police patrolling would be enhanced in all the provinces, federal capital, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK.
