Karachi: Karachi's top bureaucrat said yesterday that "certified" security happen to be taken up protect rallies today to celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be On Him).

Pakistan observes the day today & tons Muslims rally on the street to celebrate the morning, reciting Quranic verses & poetry in praise of the Prophet (PBUH).

"We now have an idiot-proof policyowner for the protection on the rallies on Sunday," Roshan Shaikh, Commissioner of Karachi, told Gulf News.
Shaikh said that hundreds of thousands people participate in the rallies close by the city.

Threat of sectarian violence inside the city makes such rallies highly sensitive in term of security, posing a job to the authorities.

Some 50 rallies were likely to be used call at different parts of the location near the main rally which courses from the M.A. Jinnah Road, the primary thoroughfare of Karachi, they explained.

The protection plan included deployment of some 15,000 policemen besides numerous paramilitary rangers. Aerial surveillance would be also conducted using helicopters & plenty of walk-through gates would be installed to detect metallic & explosive material.

Volunteers

"The volunteers of religious groups would, however, help in the safety measures," Shaikh said.

"Police & rangers will certainly do the key security device inside the outside zone, playing with the rallies the volunteers in the religious groups would play a immense role," they said.

Close Circuit Televisions (CCTV) are already installed on the central rally route, but some vehicles carrying CCTVs would even be deployed to strengthen surveillance activities. "We have the capability to protect 40 % with the section of the city through electronic eye," they said.

"No there is no specific threat however in view in the continued situation near you they ought to be alert," the Karachi commissioner said.

There won't be specific security threats on the rallies today, however the general perception keeps the state on their toes.

Violence

A bomb ripped from the sundown prayers within the eve on the birth anniversary celebrations in 2005, killing 57 people, including top leadership from the Ahle Sunnat sect, & that is responsible for organising rallies.

In view from the festivities, that include illuminating private & public buildings, the Karachi Electric Supply Company claims it would not banned power supply on the day.

Subsequently security of the rallies have been accorded high priority.

KESC shuts down CCTV Power Supplies for plenty of hours in different parts of metropolis to generate up for electricity supply shortages.