Afridi reviews Muharram security plan in KP, orders strict arrangements

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting at the Central Police Office in Peshawar to review security arrangements for Muharramul Haram, with officials presenting the province’s law and order assessment, the finalised security plan and preparedness measures.

During the meeting, Afridi said maintaining peace and protecting lives and property during the holy month was the provincial government’s top priority. He told the participants that all available resources would be used to ensure a peaceful environment and directed the relevant departments to fully support police personnel assigned to Muharram duties.

"We will utilise all available resources to maintain a peaceful and secure environment," the CM said.

Senior police officials briefed the meeting on arrangements before, during and after Muharram. According to the briefing, 43,317 police personnel will be deployed across the province. District-level security plans have been finalised, while the Provincial Command and Control Centre has been fully activated for real-time monitoring and coordination.

Deployment and monitoring measures

The meeting was informed that Section 144 remains in force in various districts. Police patrolling, search-and-strike operations and snap checking are also continuing as part of the security plan.

In Peshawar, the Safe City camera network will be used to closely monitor Muharram processions and religious gatherings on Ashura. Officials also told the meeting that security for religious scholars has been strengthened, while social media platforms are being monitored strictly to prevent the spread of hate material and misinformation.

Police authorities said modern technology and advanced security equipment would be used to reinforce security management and improve rapid response capacity during the holy month.

Sensitive districts, imambargahs and processions

Officials informed the meeting that the province has 614 imambargahs, of which 127 have been placed in the highly sensitive category, 262 in the sensitive category and 225 in the normal category.

The meeting was also told that 907 Muharram processions are expected across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Of these, 286 have been categorised as highly sensitive, 190 as sensitive and 431 as normal.

According to the briefing, eight districts have been declared highly sensitive for Muharram and six have been placed in the sensitive category, with special security arrangements made for those areas.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Home Tariq Saeed, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed and other senior police officials.