PESHAWAR/QUETTA:
Authorities have ordered the complete closure of all markets in the historic inner city for four days citing the precarious law and order situation during the holy month of Muharram. Key commercial arteries including Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Kohati Bazaar, Peepal Mandi, Kochi Bazaar and Sarafa Bazaar have been sealed off with accordion wire and heavy barricades, effectively bringing trade to a standstill.
Police commandos and paramilitary troops have been deployed in large numbers across the provincial capital, with a central command post monitoring processions in real time through an extensive network of CCTV cameras. According to officials, more than 20 mourning processions were taken out on 6 Muharram, all following their traditional routes from various imambargahs before ending peacefully at their places of origin.
“Over 10,000 security personnel have been deployed across the city, with additional quick response units deployed at sensitive locations,” a senior police official told reporters. “Command and control centers have been activated and we are continuously tracking every gathering and procession via video surveillance to prevent any untoward incident.”
All entry and exit points to Peshawar have been placed under strict cordons, with checks on vehicles and pedestrians intensified to the maximum level. Authorities have also arranged alternative traffic routes to minimize inconvenience to the public, while a separate security plan has been issued for the 7th Muharram procession scheduled for today.
Quetta on a knife edge
Meanwhile, in a coordinated provincial response, the Balochistan government has put its entire security apparatus on red alert, placing 17 districts under strict surveillance to prevent potential sectarian violence. After a high-level review session chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Monday, officials finalized a comprehensive security framework designed to maintain absolute peace in the restive province.
During the briefing, the Ministry of Interior classified 11 districts as “highly critical” and another six as “sensitive”, with a dedicated emergency preparedness plan prepared specifically for the 9th and 10th Muharram, the main commemorative days. The strategy involves early preventive sweeps along procession routes and around religious congregations combined with multi-layered security rings. Chief Minister Bugti instructed the police to ensure problem-free coordination between authorities and operational harmony.
“Any person who tries to incite sectarian discord or spread inflammatory rhetoric will face the full force of the law,” Bugti warned, stressing a zero-tolerance policy. “The state’s primary duty is the safety and protection of its citizens, and we will use every public resource to maintain a peaceful environment.”
Recognizing the delicate communal balance during Muharram, the provincial administration has also engaged religious leaders from different faiths.
