Security tightened for Ashura processions

The provincial government has announced a ban on pillion riding across Sindh, including Karachi, on the 8th, 9th and 10th Muharram.

There will be a ban on pillion riding from the night of the 8th of Muharram until Ashura in order to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident.

The Sindh government has also requested the ministry to block the mobile phone services along the procession routes on Muharram 9 and 10.

According to the details, as many as 69,545 police personnel will perform security duties across the province including 17,558 in Karachi, 16,816 in Hyderabad, 2,237 in Mirpurkhas, 9,280 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 8,258 in Sukkar and 15,404 in Larkana, reads a contingency plan prepared by AIG Operations Sindh for Muharram.

In Karachi, MA Jinnah Road has been sealed with containers and other barriers and would remain unavailable for routine traffic on 9th and 10th Muharram.

Roads joining Saddar Regal Chowk, corridor-3 to Saddar Dawa Khana have also been sealed for traffic.

Security has been beefed-up for 8, 9 and 10 Muharram processions in the metropolis.

The police have sealed shops and blocked roads with containers.

The Sindh government has declared 9th and 10th September (Monday and Tuesday) as public holidays on the occasion of Ashura.