KARACHI / LAHORE / MULTAN: Strict security measures are in place and Section 144 has been imposed in various parts of the country to avoid any untoward incident on Youm-e-Ali (RA), Express News reported on Sunday.
HunzaNews,July 20,2014
In addition to the imposition of Section 144, which bans a gathering of over four people at one place for rallies and protests, pillion riding has also been banned in Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and Quetta.
Cellular services remain active in Lahore and Karachi even after the Sindh government had announced on July 18 that mobile-phone services would be suspended from 4 am till 11 pm today and a similar announcement was made for parts of Lahore.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) is checking the procession route in Karachi before letting people through. CCTV cameras are also in place and sharp-shooters have taken position on tall buildings along the route. The district government has also set up a control room for 24 hours and routes from Gurumandir to Tower have been sealed using containers.
Here is a map of the route of Youm-a-Ali processions in Karachi:
In Lahore, 5,000 police officers in uniform as well as police commandos in civil clothes have been deployed.
Police are searching people passing through the procession route in Lahore three times and 100 CCTV cameras have also been installed in the city.
Over 2,000 police officers have been deployed in Multan, including the Multan regional police officer (RPO) and district coordination officer.
Processions have already started in Karachi and Lahore, while a small procession has commenced in Multan where another larger one was due to begin at 1pm today.
express tribune
