The Punjab Government has decided to enforce section 144 throughout the province in view of Muharram-uham, as part of the efforts to maintain the law and order and prevent sectarian disturbances.
The prohibition will be in force from Muharram 1 to 10 and will prohibit the exhibition of weapons, fireworks and any material that can incite sectarian or religious tensions in public spaces without prior permission from the authorities, said Express News.
Double driving will be prohibited in Muharram 9 and 10, although the elderly, women and law personnel will be exempt from this restriction.
The authorities have clarified that new processions or changes in traditional Majalis routes will not be allowed. Public statements or content that promote sectarian or ethnic hatred, either through social media devices or platforms, are also prohibited under the order.
Read: Strict security Muharram promised
In addition, residents are prohibited from building structures such as posts or collection stones, bottles or debris on roofs along procession routes. Spectators will not be allowed to gather on roofs or the shelves of the stores during processions.
In addition to the double driving prohibition, all other restrictions will remain effective during Muharram’s first ten days.
Meanwhile, security has been increased in the provincial capital. The dolphin squad and the police response unit have been put on a maximum alert to guarantee security during Muharram’s activities.
In a recent operation, Dolphin Force recovered firearms from a suspicious black vehicle in fine road, arrested five suspects.
The recovered articles included two rifles, three guns, dozens of bullets and magazines.
According to SP Dolphin Arslan Zahid, the suspects, Kashif Ali, Muhammad Rahat, Azeem Anwar, Muhammad Mansab and Basharat Ali, have been delivered to the Chuhang police station to obtain more legal procedures.
Previously, the Punjab government has implemented an integral security plan for Muharram, incorporating digital surveillance, coordination between agencies and infrastructure security measures to guarantee peaceful religious observances throughout the province.
According to the Department of Origin, Muharram is likely to begin on June 26 or 27, subject to the sighting of the Moon. A digital portal has been activated to monitor Majalis, procession routes and confidential sites, with commissioners instructed to load relevant data within five days. The system will be administered by Kamran Taj of the MI section of the Department of Origin.
To reinforce security, the department has formally requested the deployment of Rangers of the Pakistan and Punjab army, requesting location and duration details within a week. The application also includes mobile signal jam in specific high -risk areas.
To prevent sectarian disturbances, the government has ordered that the religious meetings that are not of Shia remain physically separated from Shiite events.
