Over 14,000 police personnel to secure Muharram events across Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: More than 14,000 police personnel will be deployed in the Rawalpindi region to provide security for Muharram processions and majalis across Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal, according to officials.

The arrangements cover 1,065 processions and 4,813 majalis scheduled from 1st to 30th Muharram. Police said that from 1st to 10th Muharram alone, 759 processions and 4,376 majalis will be held in the region.

According to the security categorisation shared by police, 116 processions have been placed in category A, 120 in category B and 829 in category C. For majalis, 478 have been classified in category A, 414 in category B and 3,921 in category C.

Control rooms and monitoring arrangements

Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi Region Babar Sarfaraz Alpa said special control rooms had been set up at both regional and district levels to improve monitoring and the flow of information during Muharram. He said security arrangements had been completed and that the code of conduct and standard operating procedures issued by the Punjab government would be enforced strictly.

The RPO said officers and personnel would remain on alert during Muharram and ensure close monitoring of sensitive locations, imam bargahs and processions. He added that police would maintain coordination with other law enforcement agencies during the period.

Police also said surveillance through Safe City cameras would be strengthened, while search, sweep, combing and intelligence-based operations would be intensified. Officials said strict legal action would be taken against those spreading religious hatred and inflammatory material on social media.

Traffic plan for processions and gatherings

Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Farhan Aslam has also issued a detailed traffic management plan for Muharram-ul-Haram. Under the plan, more than 980 officers and personnel of Rawalpindi Traffic Police will perform duty during the month.

According to the plan, traffic will be diverted to alternative routes during the timings of majalis and processions in coordination with district police. Additional traffic personnel have been assigned to keep vehicles moving on diversion routes, while specific roads will remain available for ambulances and other emergency vehicles.

Officials said parking would not be allowed around the venues of majalis and processions. Farhan Aslam said enforcement against vehicles without number plates and those with black-tinted windows had been further intensified as part of security measures for Muharram.

The CTO also appealed to the public to use alternative routes during processions and follow the directions issued by traffic police. RPO Babar Sarfaraz Alpa said, in line with the directions of the Inspector General of Police Punjab, all available resources were being used to maintain law and order in the Rawalpindi region and to protect citizens' lives and property during Muharram.