Inspector General of Police Punjab Muhammad Tahir said that Police
Officials and Officers would remain on high alert to ensure peaceful
environment throughout the province on the eve of Ashur in order to
prevent any untoward activity by extremists and terrorists. He ordered
strict screening and checking of the routes of central processions on
9th and 10th Muharram and that would be done through bomb disposal
squad and sniffer dogs of special branch while arrangements would be
made for the parking of bikes and cars at minimum 100 feet away from
Mosques and Imam-barghas after being checked by active officials. He
further said to utilize all the available resources for the provision
of Muharram security and to ensure punctuality of all the processions
and Majalis’ and ordered to expedite search, sweep, combing and
intelligence based operations in the vicinity of processions, Majalis
and  Imam Bargahs of the sensitive districts. He also asked to ensure
the strict implementation of loud-speaker act, and ban on walk
chalking, and Ariel firing. He expressed these views while talking to
media persons after observing the security measures taken for Muharram
in Faisalabad and Sargodha region.

During his visit of Faisalabad and Sargodha, IG Punjab chaired high
level meeting in RPO offices. The meeting was attended by RPO
Faisalabad Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, RPO Sargodha Sultan Ahmad Chahudhry,
CPO Faisalabad Ishfaq Ahmad Khan, DPO Jhang Shakir Hassan Dawar, DPO
Chinniot Ibadat Nisar, DPO Toba Tek Singh Zulfiqar Ahmad, DPO Sargodha
Muhammad Hassan Raza Khan, DPO Mianwali Syed Karar Hussain, DPO Kushab
Hasnain Haider and DPO Bhakkar Khurram Shakoor was also present. On
this occasion, RPO Faisalabad and RPO Sargodha briefed IG Punjab about
the security plan of Muharram ul Harram upon which IG Punjab directed
them to ensure 4 layer security, according to the defined SOPs, for
the sensitive processions and Majalis’. He said that plain clothes
commandos should be deployed for security of Majalis and processions
and he directed to deploy snipers on roof tops of the buildings on the
routes of sensitive processions and Majalis. He emphasized that no
mourner should be allowed to enter into Majalis and processions
without getting checked through metal detectors and walk through
gates. He said that strict action would be taken against those who
show any negligence towards their duty. He further said that it is the
prime responsibility of police to ensure peaceful environment and
provision of safety and security to the lives and properties of people
and he was of the belief that police officers and officials will
perform this duty with great honesty and rigor. He also said that a
crackdown would be launched after ashra-e-Muharram for the elimination
of anti-social and terrorist elements. IG Punjab ordered to wind up
serious cases that are under-investigation and ordered to arrest the
most wanted criminals.