The army may soon be deployed in sensitive districts of the NWFP to help maintain law and order during Muharram, Daily Times learnt on Tuesday.| Called that one, by golly. Toldja the operation against TNSM was a practice run. |
| Having whomped the AA affiliate, they now go up against a big-league opponent. |
Afghan border sealed: According to sources, the Afghan border would be sealed on the 9th and 10th of Muharram to prevent the entry of Afghans, believed to be involved in worsening the law and order situation. Aman (peace) committees, consisting of Shia and Sunni members, have also been formed in all districts to address and resolve the issues, they added.
The government has banned the playing of music, wall-chalking and the distribution of leaflets or posters that could provoke sectarian violence during Muharram, and aman committees will be activated at police station level.
According to officials, the administration has received threats of suicide attacks and other such acts during Muharram and the government is mulling a strategy to counter them.
In the tribal belt, Kurram and Orakzai agencies are the most sensitive areas during the month. An official said the impact of the current situation in Kurram Agency could affect Hangu and Kohat districts. Hangu is one of the most sensitive areas, where around 80 percent of the population is Sunni and 20 percent Shia. The first suicide attack in NWFP took place in Hangu on February 9, 2006, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at an Ashura procession and killed several people. Kohat has not been a sensitive area in the past, however, it has been declared a sensitive area owing to its proximity to Hangu and Kurram Agency.
Meanwhile, the NWFP government has banned the entry of 12 religious scholars of both sects from Balochistan, an unspecified number of them from Sindh, and it plans to ban the entry of some religious scholars from Punjab.
The government has also asked the Shia community to form committees to monitor suspected people at their religious gatherings. The NWFP government has also approved Rs 24 million to help the police with their expenditures for transportation and other purposes, the sources added.