ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province will deploy around 40,000 security personnel to maintain law and order during the Islamic month of Muharram, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Thursday. 

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, where the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a revered figure in Shia Islam, was martyred.

Muharram also witnesses religious processions across Pakistan to the prophet’s grandson, prompting relevant authorities to devise elaborate security measures each year to prevent any disturbances.

“About 40,000 security personnel would be deployed for security purposes during the month of Muharram, whereas special contingents of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Pak Army would also be deployed for the security of the processions and gatherings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” APP said in a report. 

This decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the provincial government chaired by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to review security arrangements ahead of the holy month. Participants of the meeting were informed Muharram processions and gatherings would be held in 14 districts of the province.

Of these, eight districts have been reported as “most sensitive” while the rest have been declared as “sensitive” in terms of law and order and security arrangements, APP said. 

“A central control room comprising representatives from all relevant departments and law enforcing agencies is also being set up at the Home Department for the purpose,” the state media said. “Processions and public gatherings would be monitored directly through CCTV cameras whereas display of arms, pillion riding and hateful wall chalking have also been banned.”

Authorities will suspend mobile phone services in sensitive districts of the province, while special measures to monitor social media pages to curb the spread of hateful content were also proposed in the meeting, the state media said. It added that the staff of health and rescue departments of the province would be assigned special duties to effectively deal with any untoward situation during Muharram.

“Maintaining law and order during the month of Muharram should be the top-most priority of all the stakeholders,” Gandapur was quoted as saying by APP. He said all relevant authorities, departments and agencies would have to fulfill their respective responsibilities in a timely manner. 

“Moreover, he directed that religious leaders of different sects and elected public representatives should be approached as an effort to promote religious harmony and tolerance during Muharram,” APP said.