PESHAWAR/QUETTA:
Authorities have ordered the total closure of all markets in the historic city center for four days, citing the precarious law and order situation during the solemn month of Muharram. Key commercial arteries, including Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Kohati Bazaar, Peepal Mandi Bazaar, Kochi Bazaar and Sarafa Bazaar, have been sealed with concertina wire and heavy barricades, effectively paralyzing trade.
Large numbers of police commandos and paramilitary troops have been deployed throughout the provincial capital, with a central command post monitoring processions in real time through an extensive network of CCTV cameras. According to officials, more than 20 funeral processions took place on Muharram 6, all following their traditional routes from various imambargahs before concluding peacefully at their points of origin.
“More than 10,000 security officers have been stationed across the city, with additional rapid response units located in sensitive locations,” a senior police official told reporters. “Command and control centers have been activated and we are continuously tracking every gathering and procession through video surveillance to prevent any untoward incident.”
All entry and exit points in Peshawar have been placed under strict cordons, with vehicle and pedestrian checks intensified to the highest level. Authorities have also arranged alternative traffic routes to minimize public nuisance, while a separate security plan has been issued for the seventh Muharram procession scheduled for today.
Quetta on a knife edge
Meanwhile, in a coordinated provincial response, the Balochistan government has put its entire security apparatus on red alert, placing 17 districts under strict surveillance to thwart possible sectarian violence. Following a high-level review session chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Monday, officials finalized a comprehensive security framework designed to maintain absolute peace across the restive province.
During the briefing, the Department of Home Affairs classified 11 districts as “highly critical” and another six as “sensitive”, with an Emergency Response Plan drawn up specifically for the 9th and 10th of Muharram, the most significant commemoration days. The strategy involves early preventive sweeps along procession routes and around religious congregations, along with multi-level security rings. Chief Minister Bugti directed the police to ensure perfect inter-agency coordination and operational harmony.
“Any individual who attempts to incite sectarian discord or spread inflammatory rhetoric will face the full force of the law,” Bugti warned, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy. “The primary duty of the state is the safety and security of its citizens, and we will use all public resources to preserve a peaceful environment.”
Recognizing the delicate communal balance during Muharram, the provincial administration has also involved religious leaders of various denominations.
