KARACHI: Arrangements for strict security measures were underway in major cities of the country whereas an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesman said that 10,000 army men would be working with the civil administration for the maintenance of law and order during the observance of Chehlum.
The troop deployment has been made on the request of the federal and provincial governments.
Sources said that additional contingents of Rangers would also be on standby in cities declared most sensitive.
Troop deployment, along with armored vehicles, commenced in major cities of the country, included Karachi and Rawalpindi.
Sindh’s interior ministry also imposed a ban on pillion riding in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana, the province's four main cities.
Moreover, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has also directed officials to restrict mobile phone services in most parts of the country.
According to a PTA notification, issued on direction of the interior ministry, cellular phone services and wireless services will remain shut from 7am to 10pm in most cities of the country on Tuesday.
In sensitive areas of Sindh, contingents of Pakistan’s armed forces would also be on stand by to assist authorities in maintaining the law and order situation.
In Rawalpindi, pillion riding has been banned for the occasion whereas the district administration has proposed the suspension of cellphone services.
Moreover, apart from the Chehlum procession, congregation of five of more than five persons has also been outlawed in the city.
A strict adherence to the ban on the use of loudspeakers would also be implemented, authorities announced.
Law enforcers would conduct strict checking at all entry and exit points of the city, whereas a ban has also been imposed on carrying weapons.
At least 5,000 policemen and three companies of the army and another ten of the Rangers would be deployed for security along the main procession route in Rawalpindi.
Moreover, around 300 hidden cameras have also been installed along the route in the city.
Barricades have also been setup in various areas of the city through which the procession would pass, whereas hotels and rest houses along the route have also been closed down.
The city was put on high security alert and policemen were deployed to scan the areas adjoining the procession route.
Extraordinary security measures were also in place in Lahore for the celebration of the urs of Data Ganj Baksh and walk-through metal detectors were installed at all entry points of the shrine.
Two Chehlum processions would pass through Peshawar, whereas security was beefed up and barb wire barricades were set up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial capital for Chehlum of the Prophet (PBUH)’s grandson.
Members of the Imamia Scouts would also participate in security duties on the occasion.
Similarly, Section 144 was imposed in KP's Nowshera district whereas the administration issued instructions for strict vigilance of Afghan refugee camps in the region.