Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon announced on Thursday that the provincial government has finalized an extensive security plan for Muharram, deploying nearly 50,000 police personnel across major cities to ensure peace and order during the religious commemorations.
Memon stated that the Chief Minister of Sindh had met with religious scholars from multiple sects to review the security arrangements for Muharram gatherings and processions.
He disclosed that 14,546 police officers will be stationed at majalis (gatherings), while 35,116 will be deployed to safeguard processions. Additionally, more than 14,000 extra personnel will be on standby to reinforce security across Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad between the 8th and 10th of Muharram. He also addressed concerns regarding traffic restrictions, clarifying that the April 15 notification banning rickshaws applies only to 11 major roads in Karachi. The regulation, issued under the Sindh Motor Vehicle Ordinance of 1965, aims to streamline traffic during peak Muharram days. Memon defended the move, questioning whether rickshaws are permitted on major highways in other provinces, and emphasized that the government’s priority is to facilitate public movement.
Touching on developments in education, Memon revealed that the provincial government had hired 93,118 teachers through a merit-based process conducted via the IBA test. The recruits include 58,613 men and 31,075 women, along with 2,100 individuals from minority communities and 1,330 with special needs. He claimed this transparent hiring process left no room for controversy. As a result, 5,000 previously shut-down schools have been reopened, with government school enrollment reaching 5.5 million students.
An additional 4 million attend private institutions, and 1 million are enrolled in Sindh Education Foundation schools. Sharjeel Memon highlighted the Sindh government’s initiatives in housing, health, climate, and infrastructure. He noted that following the devastating 2022 floods, 2.1 million houses were constructed.
He credited Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for bringing climate concerns to the global stage, while pointing to local efforts such as widespread mangrove plantations for environmental protection. Turning to national politics, Memon took aim at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, accusing him of neglecting his province’s law and order situation while issuing threats to the federal capital.
He remarked that Gandapur needs no opposition, as he undermines his own leadership. He also criticized Jamaat-e-Islami for what he described as a legacy of “sedition politics” in Karachi.
While welcoming criticism, Memon warned that the government will not tolerate any attempts to dictate its governance. A designated area for protests, he said, has been proposed to safeguard public routine.
