Army to be deployed across Pakistan for Muharrum security

The Interior Ministry has approved the request of provinces to deploy military and frontier corps personnel to provide security during Ashura processions, which will be observed on July 17 across Pakistan.

The troops will be deployed under Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to assist civil administration across the country.

“The army is being deployed to assist civil administration,” stated a notification issued on Monday.

Moreover, the date of de-requisitioning of the said deployment will be decided after the mutual understanding of all stakeholders.

The decision was taken at the request of the Home Departments of provinces, demanding the deployment of additional security forces on the occasion of Muharram.

However, the military units will be stationed as needed.

Earlier, in the wake of the tightened security for processions and Majalis, the Punjab government requested the federal government to temporarily halt the social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formally Twitter), WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram from 6 to 11 Muharram.  

However, the decision to shut down the social media application was not taken yet, said a spokesperson for the interior ministry.