Karachi: Stringent security measures have been taken to prevent any sectarian or terrorist attacks during Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calendar).
More than 70,000 policemen have been deployed — in addition to hundreds of cameras being installed — to protect processions.
Police shot and killed at least three terrorists on Friday evening in an encounter and recovered large quantities of explosives and weapons in the northern outskirts of the city.
Senior police officer Rao Anwar said that the terrorists were plotting an attack on the Shiite rally near the Tibet Centre, where the main Muharram procession passes every year.
An explosives-laden motorcycle and extra bags of explosives and weapons were also recovered.
Inspector General of Police Gulam Haider Jamali on Friday ordered the force to ensure prudent usage of loudspeakers installed in public places to avoid amplifiers being used to deliver sermons that might spark tensions or violence in this mega city.
The provincial police chief also ordered that the ban on CDs, DVDs and cassettes containing provocative speeches be strictly imposed in letter and spirit.
Under the Muharram security plan, half of the police force would guard the Shiite procession in Karachi.
Police officer Usman Gani told Gulf News that proactive actions were already taken ahead of Muharram in which hundreds of raids were conducted to prevent terrorist activities. In two different encounters some 16 terrorists were killed and a huge quantity of explosive was also recovered from the militants in the raids.
Highlighting the salient feature of the security, Gani said that the police had also trained female and male Shiite scouts who would frisk participants of the processions.
Additionally, around 250 CCTVs were installed in different parts of the city and many command and control systems were set up under the supervision of senior police officers. These control setups would closely monitor the processions and rallies.
Police has also recommended that the government impose a ban on pillion riding on the 9th and 10th day of Muharram as part of further tightening of security.
Motorcyclists had hurled a hand grenade on a Shiite mosque that killed a one-year-old girl and wounded eight others.
The government has also arranged a rapid response police squad along with the regular police force whereas the army would be called if the law and order situation worsens during Muharram.
