Countrywide security on high alert for Youm-e-Ali

The security plans have been finalized for Youm-e-Ali. More than 16,000 police officers alongwith Rangers will be performing their duties in Karachi. Mobile phone services will remain suspended and security men will also be deployed on rooftops of several buildings.

The procession routes will be sealed since Saturday evening and the monitoring of the entry and exit routes will be stepped up.

It should be noted that pillion riding has already been banned since Friday due to security reasons.

More than 10,000 police officers have been deployed for security of the procession in Lahore. Mobile phone services will remain suspended with cell-phone jammers and police officers will also be deployed on rooftops of different buildings.

Sniffer dogs will also be used for security whereas there will be no parking from one kilometer of the processions.

In Peshawar, the procession routes will also be cleared by Bomb Disposal Squads and more than 1000 security men will be deployed to meet any unforeseen situation on the occasion.

Cellular services are likely to be suspended in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock and Chakwal whereas pillion- riding has been banned in Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Gujranwala and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Seven hundred police officers, 300 commandos and 200 Rangers personnel will be deployed for security in Hyderabad.