RAWALPINDI: Five companies of the Pakistan Army. seven companies of Rangers will be deployed in Rawalpindi to assist the administration and police in maintaining peace during Muharram.
A total of 4,376 majalis. 757 processions will be held in Rawalpindi division, and arrangements have been completed in this regard.
The district administration has banned the entry of 169 religious leaders. zakirs into the district and issued gagging orders for 83 clerics during Muharram. As many as 312 people have been placed on the Fourth Schedule in Rawalpindi.
This was stated during a meeting of the Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law. Order, which visited Rawalpindi on the instructions of the Punjab chief minister to review Muharram security arrangements on Wednesday.
The committee held an important meeting at the Commissioner’s Office in Rawalpindi. Provincial Minister. Chairman of the Cabinet Committee Khawaja Salman Rafique, Provincial Minister and Co-Chairman Bilal Yasin, Provincial Ministers Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth and Bilal Akbar Khan were present.
Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi, Additional IG CTD Waseem Sial, Provincial Intelligence Fusion. Threat Assessment Centre (PIFTAC) Chief Coordinator Brigadier Asjad Ali, DIG Special Branch Sajjad Manj and DG Auqaf Hafiz Anisur Rehman also attended the meeting.
Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak and RPO Babar Sarfaraz Alpa briefed the participants on the arrangements. Deputy commissioners and DPOs from Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal also attended and gave briefings.
Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique said that, on the instructions of the Punjab chief minister, the Cabinet Committee on Law. Order was visiting all divisional headquarters to review arrangements.
He said that the administration and local police would ensure the best possible security arrangements for Muharramul Haram. He stressed that a zero-tolerance policy should be adopted for violations of the Muharram code of conduct. urged procession organisers to ensure punctuality in processions and gatherings.
He said that strict security arrangements would be made in inter-provincial and inter-district border areas.
Provincial minister Bilal Yasin said that the severity of the weather should also be kept in mind during the arrangements. He urged all organisers to connect with law enforcement agencies through the Public Safety application.
“For a safe Muharram. it is mandatory to strictly implement the SOPs issued by the Home Department,” said Punjab Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth, adding that procession routes should be monitored with the help of Safe City cameras.
Punjab Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said that all traditional processions and gatherings should be secured in accordance with the SOPs. He also urged all schools of thought to encourage their followers to avoid unrest on social media.
The Punjab home secretary said that strict action would be taken against sectarian and hateful content on social media. He directed that cyber patrol cells be established in all districts on the lines of the Home Department.
Later, the Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law and Order met with the Divisional Peace Committee and ulema and mashaikh.
The Divisional Peace Committee and ulema and mashaikh expressed satisfaction with the Muharram arrangements.
“Friday will be celebrated as Unity Day,” Khawaja Salman Rafique stated during the meeting. He paid tribute to the role of religious scholars in promoting unity among the Muslim Ummah.
He said that the administration and peace committees were making effective arrangements through mutual understanding.
Other speakers said that the positive and constructive role of religious scholars always contributed to the reform of society. They said that all schools of thought would observe Muharram peacefully and with religious devotion and respect.
They added that the mutual respect and affection among scholars set an example for the whole society. Maintaining peace and order was a collective responsibility necessary for the stability of the country.
At the end of the meeting, prayers were offered for the country’s development, prosperity and a peaceful Muharram.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026
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