https://arab.news/rq9mv
KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday deployed tens of thousands of police and security personnel across the country as mourners took out religious processions to pay tribute to Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
Pakistan’s government takes stringent security measures every year as militants have attacked Muharram processions in the country in past.
Hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims organize religious processions, especially on the 10th of the month, to pay tribute to Hussain, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala.
Police in the country’s most populous Punjab province said nearly 100,000 police officers and personnel were performing duties for 2,732 processions in the region.
“Punjab Police remains ever-vigilant for the protection of lives and property of the public and the maintenance of law and order,” the police said on X.
More than 1,600 processions are being taken out across Sindh, according to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Around 60,000 police and Rangers paramilitary personnel have been deployed for security of the mourners.
Shah said three unfortunate accidents occurred this year, in which multiple mourners were killed.
“This is an indication that we should improve our arrangements,” he was quoted as saying by his office.
Islamabad police said their senior officers were present in the field to ensure security of the central procession, urging citizens to report any suspicious activity to authorities.
Similar arrangements were in place Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region to ensure order.