The Punjab government has imposed section 144 throughout the province of Muharram 1 to 10 to guarantee religious peace and harmony.
Section 144 is a legal provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) that allows district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period.
An order of department of origin of Punjab issued on Friday, a copy of which it is available with Dawn.comHe declared that the section was imposed to avoid the “interruption of public peace and instability”, in addition to guaranteeing “security and security of the public of lives and property.”
The notification cited “the possible threat to peace and public tranquility, religious harmony and the general situation of law and order in the province of criminals, violent extremists and antisocial elements.”
During the first 10 days of Muharram, which will probably begin on June 27 or 28 in Pakistan, the Government has banned “innovations of Muharram processions [and] Majalis“
It has also forbidden to carry any article that can be used as an offensive weapon, including bamboo sticks (canes), knives, daggers and spears, as well as combustible material in public places without the permission of a competent authority.
There will also be a complete prohibition of slogans and gestures “that can incite public feelings, or directly or indirectly the belief of any sect, community or group.”
The dissemination of the information or the realization of “abusive or derogatory comments through any system or information device” that cause or probably cause interreligious, sectarian or racial hatred will also be prohibited.
The spectators will be prohibited from the roofs of the buildings on the routes and in front of the stores located along the routes during the processions, the order added. Further deepened the construction of Morches (Shot bays) on the roofs of such buildings and the collection of stones, bricks, bottles or garbage along the procession routes.
In Muharram 9 and 10, fingerprint driving will also be prohibited, except for older people, women and law personnel, the order added.
Mobile Jamming, prohibition of the speakers of ‘brand’ sought
The Punjab Department of Interior has begun to take measures, including the deployment of armed forces when necessary, to guarantee peace in the province during Muharram.
He has sought the needs of each Army troops district and the Rangers, along with the mobile interference requirements, with specific location and duration. He has also declared that a speaker prohibition must be completely applied under the Punjab Sound Systems Law (Regulation) of 2015 during Muharram.
The attached commissioners have been asked to discuss and develop contingency plans, update lists of fire brand speakers that are stored or prohibited, and avoid misuse of speakers during the month.
DCs have also been informed about the guidelines to establish sabas.
In Rawalpindi, five companies from the Pakistan Army and six Rangers companies will be deployed to help the administration and the police to maintain the law and order.
The district administration has banned the entry of 169 religious leaders and Zakireen in the district and also issued nausea orders for 89 clergy during Muharram. Up to 184 people have been placed in the fourth schedule.
Section 144 was also imposed during Muharram in Punjab last year, and the Pakistan army and the Rangers were deployed throughout the country after the requests of all provincial governments.
Although the Punjab government had also asked the Ministry of Interior to close the applications of the social networks of Muharram 6 to 11 in an attempt to avoid sectarian violence, the Ministry had deferred the decision. However, according to reports, Facebook was restricted in Pakistan in Muharram 10, Yaum-I-Ishura.
In the past, the militants have attacked Muharram’s processions several times, including a bomb explosion that killed more than 40 people who attended the main procession of Ashura on the Ma Jinnah road in Karachi in December 2009.
