Threat to Arbaeen procession looms large over metropolis in Karachi

Threat to sabotage Arbaeen procession of Karbala martyrs, which is scheduled to be taken out here on Tuesday, looms large.

According to reports, intelligence agencies have warned that a possible terrorist attack on the occasion of Arbaeen could take place and informed that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi had planned to carry out terrorist activities.

According to sources, the security agencies had informed Shia authorities about possible threats, while police high-ups had also directed to take all precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incident on this occasion.

They pointed out that those agencies have also been examining routes of procession. Security agencies have also chalked out the strategy for the security of the mourners of Arbaeen and directed to intensify the patrolling and routine checking till Tuesday across the city.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Sindh Police (IGP) Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khatak has directed the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Karachi and Regional Police Officers (RPOs), Hyderabad and Sukkur to make foolproof security arrangements on the Arbaeen.

The provincial police chief directed officials to make special security arrangements along procession routes and to deploy police commandoes at sensitive areas and on the those buildings which are located along the routes of mourning processions. He directed that close liaison be also developed with the law enforcement agencies to provide peaceful environment on Arbaeen.

He directed that entry of all the participants to the Nishtar Park be allowed only from walkthrough gates and they be also checked with coordination of the organizers of the Majlis.

The women volunteers should be deployed to check the women participants of the Majlis, he said. He said commandoes should also be deployed at pickets and on high-rise structures, besides, monitoring the processions with the help of close-circuit cameras.

He directed that vehicles joining the processions should also be checked thoroughly and no vehicle without sticker be allowed there.

The IGP Sindh said provocative wall chalking should be removed with the help of representatives of the city government from the metropolis.