Security and traffic plans have been finalised for Youm-e-Ali (RA), which is being observed today (Monday).
In Karachi, the main procession will be taken out from Nishtar Park which will end at Imambargah Hussainia Irania after marching through its conventional route of the city.
As many as 16,000 personnel of the Sindh Police will be deployed for the security of people taking part in the procession.
Policemen will be present at all search points, building rooftops and hospitals, while a command and control centre will monitor the procession.
Cleanliness work has been completed on the route of the main Youm-e-Ali (RA) procession, according to a press statement issued by the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB).
The sanitary staff will be present at the procession, while the surroundings of mosques and Imambargahs have already been cleaned.
Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani held a meeting to review the arrangements for security, development works and facilities to be provided to the main procession on Youm-e-Ali (RA).
As soon as the procession starts from Nishtar Park, all traffic will be directed towards Solider Bazar, Coast Guard to Jubilee and Garden Zoo.
Pillion riding banned in Lahore for two days
Traffic coming from Nazimabad will be diverted from Lasbella towards Nishtar Road and Garden Zoo.
People coming from Liaquatabad will be diverted to Martin Road towards the jail side, after which they will proceed via Jamshed Road.
Vehicles coming from Stadium Road shall proceed via New MA Jinnah Road. Traffic coming from Superhighway/Gulberg will be diverted from Liaquatabad No 10 towards Nazimabad No 2 and then proceed via the Habib Bank flyover, Estate Avenue Road and Sher Shah to Mauripur Road.
Traffic approaching Numaish via Shahra-e-Quaideen won’t be allowed to proceed from the roundabout. It will be diverted to Ayesha Aziz Chowrangi towards Kashmir Road.
Traffic going towards Saddar won’t be allowed to proceed towards Empress Market. Similarly, traffic coming in from MA Jinnah Road to Saddar won’t be allowed to proceed from adjoining junctions.
Meanwhile, over in Lahore, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Sunday directed the authorities to ensure foolproof security arrangements for Youm-e-Ali (RA) processions.
Issuing directives to the Provincial Cabinet Committee for Law and Order, Buzdar said implementation on prescribed security plan should be ensured at all cost, and the police should work efficiently to foil nefarious designs of anti-social elements.
He said every step should be taken to ensure peace and protection of life and property of the people.
The Punjab government also slapped a ban on pillion riding in Lahore on the eve of Youm-e-Ali (RA).
According to a notification issued by the Home Department, the ban – imposed under Section 144 (6) of Criminal Procedure Code – will be effective on Ramazan 20 and 21.
The ban, however, will not be applicable to women, children under the age of 12 years, elderly citizens, journalists, personnel of law enforcement agencies, medics, firemen and employees of rescue services.
Moreover, four-tier security will be provided to the participants of processions and majalis by utilising all available resources. According to details, mourners will be allowed to enter the processions after proper checking using walk-through gates and metal detectors. Snipers will be deployed on route of the processions, while commandos will be deployed along the routes of the processions. More than 39,255 officials and volunteers will perform security on Yum-e-Ali (RA) across Punjab.
Over in Multan, as many as 1,713 officials will be deployed for Youm-e-Ali (RA) around the city, including one SSP, three SPs, 22 inspectors, 286 SI and ASI, 1,342 constables and 45 lady constables.
On the other hand, Sukkur Commissioner Rafique Ahmed Buriro directed the authorities concerned to ensure special security measures at all mosques and Imambargah, along with sufficient number of police personnel, to ward off any untoward incident.
He also directed officials to keep a vigilant eye on suspicious elements and to make necessary arrangements for generators and functional streetlights on the procession routes, besides ensuring cleanliness.
