Pakistan: High alert at Shiite mosques, Imambargahs ordered

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch on Saturday ordered officials to ensure high and professional level alertness at all mosques and Imambargahs (Hussayniyah) during prayers time as well as when mourning for Imam Husasin may be held there. He also directed them to beef-up security arrangements during religious meetings followed by rallies and processions through foolproof intelligence sharing. IG Sindh in his orders also stressed on need to improve police picketing and snap-checking, patrolling through coordinated and disciplined efforts on part of the police department.Consequent to incidence of firing upon Shiite religious place in Gujranwala Shahid Baloch said absolute professional competency was required by the police department to avert such unfortunate instances in the province.He directed the officials to ensure presence of plain-clothed cops along with uniformed men at all sensitive sites and to also ensure strict vigil on all suspicious activities that may also include presence of abandoned vehicles, unidentified parcels and so forth.The police chief has also appealed to the citizens to immediately contact the department via emergency number 15 about abandoned vehicles, parcels or any other activity or situation of queer nature.Stickers mustMuharram procession will be taken out from Nishtar Park on November 8th, 9th and 10th and culminate at Hussainia Iranian Imambargah Kharadar. Attaching stickers on vehicles participating in the mourning procession will be mandatory.Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) has advised the owners of vehicles wanting to participate in processions to get stickers for their vehicles The stickers would be issued to the media, ambulances and rescue services from Nov 9 till Nov 11 at the DIG office, Karachi Traffic Security Branch, Garden Headquarters.Meanwhile, the media and ambulances services should submit their application forms with attested copies of the vehicles’ registration books, driving licences, CNICs along with three attested photocopies of documents and official letter from the organisation.The owners or managers of scouts and welfare organisations, vehicles distributing Sabils and Niaz would have to submit application forms with attested copies of the vehicles’ registration books, owners national identity cards, driving licences and attested photos of drivers along with an official letter from the organisation in the Scouts Rabita Council office at Numaish and would have to get a receipt.The stickers will be provided by the police after the submission of the receipt. No sticker will be issued to any other vehicle except ambulances vehicles of scouts’ welfare organisations.Control roomsThe home department on Saturday established control rooms in connection with Muharram across Sindh province.All control rooms will be functional round-the-clock. Any complaint regarding Muharram will be made to control rooms through telephone and fax numbers.  /129