Punjab Police Deploy Over 152,000 Officers for Ashura Security

Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Kareem has ordered a major security deployment across the province ahead of Ashura, with more than 152,000 police officers and personnel set to perform duty on the occasion. The directive comes as Punjab Police maintain a state of high alert to safeguard mourning processions and Majalis observed during Muharram-ul-Haram.

IG Kareem instructed all field officers to personally oversee security and traffic arrangements, with additional personnel placed at sensitive locations. Officials said the move follows a similarly large security operation on the 9th of Muharram, when thousands of processions and gatherings were held across the province without incident.

Massive Police Presence Planned for Ashura

IG Punjab Abdul Kareem said that over 152,000 police officers and personnel will be on duty across Punjab on Ashura, as authorities work to fully implement the province-wide security plan in every district.

He said there would be no compromise on the safety of mourning processions, Majalis, or the mourners attending them, and that field commanders had been told to remain present on the ground rather than monitor arrangements remotely.

Lessons From the 9th of Muharram

According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, the scale of this year's Ashura deployment builds on the policing effort already seen earlier in Muharram.

On the 9th of Muharram, the province recorded:

• 1,697 mourning processions held across Punjab

• 3,869 Majalis conducted in various districts, including Lahore

• More than 70,000 police personnel deployed for security duties

• 208 Category-A processions and 337 Category-A Majalis given special security coverage

Lahore Sees Dense Concentration of Processions

The provincial capital accounted for a significant share of the activity. In Lahore, 81 mourning processions were taken out and 386 Majalis were held on the 9th of Muharram.

Of these, 26 were classified as Category-A processions and 46 as Category-A Majalis, prompting heightened security at each location, officials said.

IG Punjab Orders Vigilance Against Disruptive Elements

IG Kareem directed police units to maintain strict watch against groups he described as Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan, warning that any attempt to disturb the peace would not be tolerated.

He also instructed that the code of conduct issued for Muharram and Section 144, which restricts public gatherings deemed a threat to law and order, be enforced without exception throughout the province.

Call for Inter-Sect Harmony

Beyond security measures, the IG appealed to religious scholars and community leaders to help maintain calm. He said their cooperation, alongside that of district administrations and security agencies, would be key to a peaceful Ashura.

He further urged scholars and community figures to actively promote tolerance, mutual respect, and harmony between sects, saying this would help foster an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood during the mourning period.

Field Supervision and Technology-Driven Monitoring

IG Kareem said Regional Police Officers (RPOs), City Police Officers (CPOs), District Police Officers (DPOs), and traffic officers are stationed in the field, personally supervising both security and traffic arrangements rather than overseeing them from offices.

He added that the Home Department, the Safe Cities Authority, and control rooms set up in every district are continuously monitoring the security situation in real time.

Surveillance and Screening Measures

To strengthen screening at procession routes and Majalis venues, police have deployed:

• CCTV cameras for continuous monitoring

• Walk-through gates and metal detectors at entry points

• Snipers positioned on rooftops of key buildings along procession routes

• Plainclothes commandos moving alongside processions

Officials said this combination of technology and manpower is intended to detect threats early and respond quickly if needed.

What This Means for Ashura Observances in Punjab

With more than double the personnel deployed on the 9th of Muharram now assigned for Ashura itself, the scale of the operation reflects the sensitivity authorities attach to the occasion. The IG's repeated emphasis on field presence, modern surveillance, and community cooperation suggests Punjab Police are treating this year's Ashura security plan as one of the largest coordinated efforts of the Muharram calendar.

[Source: brecorder]