Govt to Deploy Pakistan Army Troops Nationwide to Bolster Security During Muharram
The government has also indicated that mobile and internet services may be suspended in high-risk areas if necessary.
The federal government has approved the deployment of Pakistan Army troops across all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad to ensure security during Muharram.
This decision follows formal requests from provincial and regional authorities, who cited heightened security concerns ahead of the religious observances.
The deployment is being carried out under Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and Article 245 of the Constitution, empowering the military to assist civil authorities in maintaining law and order.
The move aims to prevent any untoward incidents during the first ten days of Muharram, a period marked by large religious gatherings and processions. Law enforcement agencies, in coordination with the army, will enforce strict security measures, including surveillance of sensitive areas, restrictions on public gatherings, and monitoring of social media for hate speech and incitement.
The government has also indicated that mobile and internet services may be suspended in high-risk areas if necessary.
The duration and scale of the deployment will be determined by local authorities based on ongoing security assessments, with the withdrawal of troops to be decided in consultation with all stakeholders.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, presiding over a high-level meeting on Thursday, announced an intensified campaign against hate speech, with particular focus on social media platforms.
To tackle the spread of inflammatory content, the government will collaborate closely with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to monitor and restrict such material online.
Officials at the meeting also considered the possibility of temporarily suspending mobile and internet services in areas deemed high-risk. Any such measures will be implemented based on real-time security evaluations and in consultation with provincial authorities.
A dedicated team comprising technical experts, digital analysts, and officers specialising in monitoring hate material has been established to track and address social media posts inciting religious hatred.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has declared that curbing online incitement during Muharram will be its foremost priority, warning that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found disseminating hate speech.
