Summary The district administration stated that no such move had been authorized.
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Police and management of Peshawar city on Saturday scuffled over the ban on Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) entry into the city. As soon as the issue was broadcasted on Dunya News, law enforcement agencies were quick in making amendments in these posters which had initially called for restriction of IDP’s movement within a 400 meter vicinity of Imambargah areas.
According to the details, in light of the security concerns during Muharram-ul-Haram, Peshawar police had pasted posters in various areas of the city highlighting the ban on entry of IDP’s of North and South Waziristan into Peshawar. However as soon as the news was broadcasted, the district administration came into action and called the ban as an unlawful move by Peshawar’s security forces. The management also issued a clarification into the matter stating that there was no prohibition on the entry of IDP’s and no such action had been authorized by the administration.
The district management also took a stern stance against police officials regarding the matter after which police officers amended the message of the posters.
Stringent security measures are being implemented in various cities of the country ahead of the Ashura Muharram-ul Haram period. IDP’s exodus from South and North Waziristan as Operation Zarb-e-Azb escalated have caused growing security concerns in the city especially during sensitive periods such as Muharram-ul-Haram as law enforcement agencies are weary that the displaced citizens might be harboring terrorist elements.
Numerous search operations have also been launched by security forces in the province as a prophylactic measure to prevent any untoward event during this period. Several suspects have been arrested including a key militant of a banned organization.
Also read: Peshawar police launches grand operation
Earlier this month, the KP law enforcement agencies declared Peshawar, Hangu, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan as sensitive areas during the Muharram-ul-Haram duration. The statement was announced during a meeting attended by Provincial police Chief Nasir Khan Durrani, regional police officers, district police officers, AIG of Special Branch, DIG of Counter-Terrorism Department and Peshawar police chief to discuss security arrangements in the province.
Police stated that Peshawar contains 66 imambargahs and 121 processions are expected to be taken out in the provincial capital. Durrani stated that the processions will have live electronic monitoring and security zones will be setup in processions and Majalis along with frisking of attendants, deployment of officers on hilltops and rooftops, security checks of residential areas through which processions might pass and proper lighting in venues of Majalis.
