Muhammad Ijaz Afridi
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has declared a province-wide public holiday on the occasion of 1st Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH, with the implementation of the holiday dependent on the official announcement regarding moon sighting by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
According to an official notification issued by the provincial Administration Department, the holiday will be observed across the province once the commencement of the new Islamic month is formally confirmed.
The notification further clarified that 1st Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH (2026) will be treated as a public holiday, subject to the sighting of the moon by the Markazi Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan.
KP Muharram Security: Partial Mobile Suspension Proposed for 9th and 10th Muharram
Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has been requested to suspend mobile phone and internet services in selected sensitive areas of the province on the 9th and 10th of Muharram as part of enhanced security arrangements, officials said on Monday.
A formal letter has been sent to the Home Department to partially shut down mobile services on 9th and 10th Muharram.
According to the details, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has completed its security homework report to ensure law and order across the province during Muharram.
This confidential report, prepared on the instructions of the IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has recommended keeping several districts of the province on high alert, while the services of the Pakistan Army, Frontier Constabulary and modern technology will be sought to make security fullproof.
According to the police security report, 8 districts of the province have been declared the most sensitive, including Peshawar, Kohat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Kurram district.
In addition to these 8 districts, 6 more districts have been included in the sensitive category in view of security concerns, where security for gatherings and processions will be tighter than usual.
The report clarified that more than 43,000 police officers and personnel will be on duty in 14 districts of the province to protect the processions and gatherings of Muharram. To further strengthen security, FC platoons will also be deployed to assist the police in the most sensitive districts, while police security will receive full support from the Pakistan Army to deal with any emergency situation.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police is also taking important recommended steps to reduce security threats, for which a formal letter has been sent to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department to partially shut down mobile phone and internet services in specific and sensitive areas of the province on 9 and 10 Muharram.
Aerial surveillance of the routes of mourning processions in sensitive and most sensitive districts will be carried out by helicopters and drones, along with this, a modern anti-drone system will also be active in these districts during Muharram to ensure security so that any unauthorized aerial activity can be prevented.
Officials say that RPOs and DPOs of all districts have been instructed to work with mourning committees and scholars to ensure implementation of the code of conduct.
