Muharram 2026: Punjab govt to deploy Rangers across province

LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has submitted a formal request to the Interior Ministry for the deployment of personnel from both the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Rangers for the purposes of strengthening the security arrangements in place within the province during the religious observance of Muharram.

The request for assistance was made in accordance with a recommendation made by the Punjab Chief of Police, who has deemed it necessary due to the heightened security environment that exists throughout the province at that time, as well as the need for a foolproof security mechanism whereby potential acts of terrorism or disruption will be prevented by members of the Punjab Police.“

Security forces will be deployed between Muharram 1 and Muharram 12 across the different phases of each of the security arrangements at designated locations, including major processions, congregations, and at a high risk location.

In total, the provincial government has requested that 137 security companies be made available to them for deployment across the 37 districts located in the province of Punjab.

Specifically, the provincial government has requested that they receive 61 security companies from the Pakistan Army and 76 security companies from the Pakistan Rangers as required to provide the necessary coverage of major urban and sensitive areas, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Many of the other districts that will receive security during the months of Muharram will include Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, Gujrat, Okara, Sahiwal, Chakwal, Attock, Jhang, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.