Tight security in Karachi for rallies

Karachi: Karachi's top administrative official said yesterday that "fool proof" security measures have been taken to protect rallies today to celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Pakistan observes the day today and hundreds of thousands Muslims rally on the street to celebrate the day, reciting Quranic verses and poetry in praise of the Prophet (PBUH).

Threat of sectarian violence in the city makes such rallies highly sensitive in term of security, posing a challenge to the authorities.

"We have a fool-proof plan for the security of the rallies on Sunday," Roshan Shaikh, Commissioner of Karachi, told Gulf News.

Shaikh said that hundreds of thousands people take part in the rallies in and around the city.

Some 50 rallies were expected to be taken out in different parts of the city beside the main rally which courses through the M.A. Jinnah Road, the main thoroughfare of Karachi, he said.

The security plan included deployment of some 15,000 policemen besides a large number of paramilitary rangers. Aerial surveillance would also be conducted using helicopters and dozens of walk-through gates would be installed to detect metallic and explosive material.

Volunteers

"The volunteers of religious groups would, however, help in the security measures," Shaikh said.

"Police and rangers will definitely be the key security tool in the external zone, but in the rallies the volunteers of the religious groups would play an important role," he said.

Close Circuit Televisions (CCTV) have been installed along the central rally route, but some vehicles carrying CCTVs would also be deployed to reinforce surveillance activities. "We have the capacity to cover 40 per cent of the area of the city through electronic eye," he said.

There are no specific security threats to the rallies today, but the general perception keeps the official on their toes.

"No there is no specific threat but in view of the ongoing situation in the country we ought to be alert," the Karachi commissioner said.

Violence

A bomb ripped through the sunset prayers on the eve of the birth anniversary celebrations in 2005, killing 57 people, including top leadership of the Ahle Sunnat sect, which is in charge of organising rallies.

Since then security of the rallies has been accorded high priority.

In view of the festivities, which include illuminating private and public buildings, the Karachi Electric Supply Company has said that it would not shut down power supply on the day.

KESC shuts down power supplies for some hours in different parts of the city to make up for electricity supply shortages.