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Nationwide Security Tightened Ahead of Ashura Amid Crackdown on Hate Content
Strict security enforced for Ashura: Army deployed, sectarian content crackdown underway. 49k+ cops in Sindh, 74 arrested in Punjab for hate speech. Ulema, govt vow unity & peace.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-03
Nationwide Security Tightened Ahead of Ashura Amid Crackdown on Hate Content

With Ashura (10th Muharram) set to be observed on Sunday, the federal and provincial governments have implemented stringent security measures across Pakistan. These include the deployment of army personnel, identification of high-risk areas, intelligence operations, and a widespread crackdown on sectarian and hate-based content online.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a high-level meeting with scholars from all schools of thought in Islamabad, thanking religious leaders for their cooperation during Muharram. “Everyone has a role in ensuring peace during this sensitive time,” Naqvi said, adding that law enforcement efforts are as vital as religious harmony.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad also participated in the meeting. Naqvi requested that scholars collectively offer Zuhr prayers at Faisal Mosque on August 14 to demonstrate unity, saying, “There is no better day than Independence Day to send a message of solidarity to the world.”

Security and Crackdowns Nationwide

In Islamabad, police have flagged 13 points as potential flashpoints, banned the entry of 17 firebrand clerics, and increased surveillance operations. In Punjab, Section 144 has been imposed province-wide till Ashura, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has focused its restrictions on sensitive districts. Karachi alone will see a deployment of over 20,000 security personnel.

Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced that 49,662 police personnel are being deployed across six major divisions—Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad—between Muharram 8 and 10. This includes 14,546 officers assigned to gatherings and 35,116 for processions.

In Punjab, the Home Department reported that 74 individuals have already been arrested for inciteful and sectarian content. A total of 932 social media accounts have been flagged to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) as part of the 24/7 cyber monitoring initiative.

Call for Peace in Terror-Hit Areas

Touching upon the recent terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including a deadly incident in Bajaur that claimed five lives including an assistant commissioner, Naqvi emphasized the role of religious scholars in countering extremism. “Terrorism will only end if the local population refuses to support these elements,” he said.

Pakistan’s Role in Global Peace

In an unexpected turn during the meeting, the interior minister also highlighted the role of Pakistan’s armed forces and leadership in helping facilitate the recent Iran-Israel ceasefire. “The world should be proud of Pakistan for convincing global leaders,” he added, echoing earlier remarks by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

As the nation prepares for Ashura, the message from Islamabad is clear: peace, unity, and vigilance will define this year’s observance.
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MuharramSecurity

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