It is good to see that security has been beefed along with other arrangements throughout the city in view of the main procession on the day of Youm e Ali (R.A) in the city. As a result of procession on Youm e Ali to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (R.A), traffic congestion due to a large number of people on the roads is seen every year on this day. That’s why the Sindh Govt has also done a commendable job by announcing holiday for educational institutions like universities, colleges and schools as it will save the students from facing traffic hurdles on Youm e Ali.

There is no denying that traffic jams become a routine affair during the peak hours in the afternoon and at Iftar during the holy month of Ramazan and the citizens suffer a lot when caught up in these jams.

That’s why, on special days when processions or public gathering and meeting or international sports events like the cricket matches at NSK are played, the city administration and the security apparatus including the police devises special security and traffic plans while the district administrations also assist in devising cleanliness and provision of other basic facilities on the route to such places.

Since the day of Hazrat Ali (RA) - Youm-e-Ali - is observed on 21st of every Ramazan, so special arrangements are made for this occasion in the mega city of Karachi. This year, the day falls on April 12 across the country commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA).and Karachi being the mega city, needs to come up with special arrangements for the central procession in this connection so that any traffic hurdles or other difficulties are not faced by the citizens.

As the country has witnessed increase in security issues during the reemergence of terrorist groups across the country during last two years after the Taliban Govt in Afghanistan, so security concerns need to be tackled first and in this connection the security apparatus and other stakeholders have been put on high alert to thwart any untoward incidents and designs of the anti-state elements.

One such important meeting regarding the security of Youm-e-Ali, was held at Karachi Police Office, under the presidentship of Additional Inspector General-Karachi Javed Alam Odho.

A large number of religious scholars belong to various schools of thoughts and the organizers of processions and Majalis, and others related representative, attended this meeting to help the police in preparing plan for the day’s security. They apprised the city police of the issues being confronted during such processions in the city.

The meeting attended by Zonal DIGPs, DIGP - Traffic, District SSPs, and other senior officers discussed ways and means and reviewed the overall security steps for the occasion.

The additional IGP - Karachi, on the occasion, instructed the concerned cops and officials to cooperate and coordinate with district administration to overcome the issues, also issuing instruction for

 foolproof along the routes of the procession and at specific points been allocated for citizens to enter the procession, for which, a heavy contingent of police needs to be deployed for supervising the situation.

On the other hand, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shehryar chaired a meeting to provide security and finalize other arrangements for mourning processions and Majalis on the occasion of Youm e Shahadat Hazrat Ali (RA).

Addressing the meeting, the DC issues directives to the municipal committee for provision and maintenance of lightening, sanitation and cleanliness along procession routes.

The Health department was also asked to establish medical camps on the 21st of Ramazan so that availability of adequate quantities of medicines, medical staff and doctors on duty is made certain while arrangements for standby ambulances were also ordered.

In this connection, the mention of District South need special emphasis as this lies at the heart of the processions which pass through Saddar, which is the busiest and crowded business centre and as such the DMC South focusses on special arrangements for the central procession along the route of the procession. Like previous years, this year too, the administration of DMC South has finalized the local arrangements for the central procession on the account of Youm e Ali on 21st Ramazan. Addressing a special meeting of the departmental officers held in this regard, Administrator DMC South, Dr. Afshan Rabab Syed said that special arrangements have been made for sanitation, road maintenance and street lights around the main procession routes, Masjids, Imam Bargahs and meeting places.

Administrator South, Dr. Afshan Rabab Syed, said that the people benefits from their true fruits only after the timely completion of any kind of development and repair work.

“For continuous monitoring of the arrangements, an emergency control room has been set up at the head office of DMC South at RS Captain Road near Haqqani Chowk, she said. Adding,  there should be no complaint of any kind in the provision of  facilities to the procession, Masjids, Imam Bargahs, congregations and places of sermons. While the work of erasing the objectionable posters and provocative slogans on the walls and poles should be completed as soon as possible, the drainage and sanitation department should also be ordered to ensure the presence of staff and necessary machinery to resolve the complaint of water leakage in the procession routes and also ensure to cover the open and broken manholes of sewerage if there are any in the route of procession.

Meanwhile, the security experts in the city have also advised the citizens to be vigilant and keep an eye on anti-state elements. No one shall be allowed to disturb the law and order situation in the mega polis during the holy month of Ramazan.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 11 2023

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