Punjab announces blanket security, drone surveillance for Muharram

LAHORE: The Punjab government has ordered foolproof security arrangements across the province for Muharram, announcing strict monitoring of religious gatherings, electronic surveillance, and action against sectarian hate speech.

The Punjab Home Department on Friday issued a comprehensive set of directives to law enforcement and district administrations, aiming to avert sectarian violence and ensure the safety of Muharram processions and congregations (majalis).

Under the new guidelines, only legally licenced and traditionally approved processions will be permitted, and they must strictly adhere to designated routes and timings.

“There will be a zero-tolerance policy for violations of the Loudspeaker Act, and speakers must abstain from making objectionable speeches against any sect or religious school of thought,” the home department directive said.

DRONES, JAMMERS, AND INNER-CITY LOCKDOWNS

The provincial government has authorized the use of mobile signal jammers along highly sensitive procession routes to mitigate the risk of remote-controlled explosive devices.

To ensure accountability, police have been directed to secure written safety certificates from event organizers, and all gatherings must be documented with audio and video recordings.

The government has ordered for establishing vehicle parking zones at a minimum distance of 500 yards from religious venues; enforcing the closure of commercial markets and shops along procession routes ; stepping up round-the-clock monitoring of hotels and inns near sensitive locations.

In rural and border areas, the provincial government has ordered enhanced drone surveillance along inter-provincial borders and the riverine (kacha) lawless tracts to prevent the movement of miscreants.

CYBER MONITORING AND THE ‘FOURTH SCHEDULE’

Recognizing the rising threat of digital escalation, the home department announced strict cyber-monitoring protocols to intercept extremist or sectarian content on social media, electronic, and print platforms.

District administrations have been empowered to ban incendiary speakers from entering specific districts or to impose speech restrictions (Zuban-bandi).

Furthermore, intelligence agencies will maintain strict surveillance on individuals listed on the “Fourth Schedule”—a watch list of suspects linked to banned or militant organizations.

The provincial police chief has been directed to submit daily updates to the home department on intelligence-based sweeps, search operations, and surprise security checks.

All divisional and district control rooms are to be linked directly to a central command center at the home department to coordinate real-time responses.

Separately, the directive emphasized that security protocols for foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens, foreign missions, and consulates operating within the province, must be implemented “letter and spirit” alongside the Muharram deployment.