Federal and provincial authorities have stepped up preparations to ensure peaceful observance of Muharram-ul-Haram, with a high-level meeting reviewing security arrangements for processions and religious gatherings across the country.
The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry along with the Secretary Interior. Home secretaries and senior police officials from all provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), attended the session.
Officials were given a detailed briefing on security plans for Muharram processions and majalis, with participants conducting a comprehensive review of arrangements aimed at maintaining law and order during the religious period.
The meeting stressed the need for coordinated and foolproof security measures to protect participants, organisers and the general public. Authorities were directed to strengthen surveillance, improve inter-agency coordination and ensure timely response mechanisms in sensitive areas.
“Protecting the lives and property of citizens during Muharram-ul-Haram is the government’s foremost responsibility,” Talal Chaudhry said.
He assured provincial authorities that the federal government would extend every possible support, directing them to immediately communicate any operational, logistical or security-related assistance required.
The minister also instructed home secretaries and law-enforcement agencies to make security measures more effective, underlining that vigilance and coordination would remain central to ensuring peaceful Muharram observances nationwide.
Over 70,000 cops deployed for Muharram security duty across Punjab
Punjab Police remained on high alert across the province on the 9th of Muharram, deploying more than 70,000 officers and personnel to ensure the peaceful conduct of mourning processions and Majalis.
According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, a total of 1,697 mourning processions and 3,869 Majalis were being held across Punjab on Thursday, including 208 Category-A processions and 337 Category-A Majalis.
In Lahore, 81 mourning processions and 386 Majalis were being held under strict security arrangements, including 26 Category-A processions and 46 Category-A Majalis.
Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem directed officers to further strengthen security measures and ensure strict implementation of Section 144 across the province.
He said more than 152,000 police officers and personnel had been deployed for security duties during Ashura, while all available resources were being utilized to maintain peace and public safety.
The IGP directed field formations to remain vigilant against hostile and extremist elements and said the peaceful observance of Muharram events would be ensured through close coordination among community leaders, district administrations and security agencies.
Abdul Kareem said RPOs, CPOs, DPOs and traffic officers were personally supervising security and traffic arrangements, while monitoring was being carried out through the Punjab Home Department, Safe Cities Authority and district control rooms.
He said CCTV cameras, walk-through gates, metal detectors and other modern equipment were being used to strengthen security checks. Snipers had also been deployed on rooftops along procession routes, while plainclothes commandos were accompanying major processions.
The IGP urged religious scholars and community leaders to continue promoting inter-sect harmony, tolerance and brotherhood during Muharram. He also acknowledged the support of provincial ministers, religious scholars, armed forces, Rangers and other security agencies in maintaining peace.