Muharram 9 processions concluded countrywide on Thursday amid tight security arrangements as mourners commemorated the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). his companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
The central procession in Islamabad for the day was taken out after Zuhr prayers from Markazi Isna Ashari Imambargah in G-6/2. The gathering culminated at the same place later in the night after passing through its designated route.
The main procession in Karachi departed from Nishtar Park at around 1:30pm and concluded at Imambargah Hussainia Iranian in Kharadar.
In Hyderabad, the main procession set off from Imambargah Chahardah Masoomeen in Latifabad in the afternoon. Organised by Anjuman Guldasta-i-Akbar, the gathering culminated at the same imambargah by evening prayers.
Similarly, in Lahore, the main procession emerged from Pando Street in Islampura in the morning. concluded at Khaima-i-Sadaat Imambargah at around 10pm after passing through its traditional route.
State broadcasterPTV Newsreported that a total of 81 processions and 386 religious gatherings were being held in the Punjab capital.
In Peshawar, the central mourning procession was taken out from Imambargah Hussainia Hall at around 10am and concluded by 7pm.
The main procession in Quetta emerged from Alamdar Road and concluded at Mominabad Imambargah, state-runAPPreported.
Security arrangements and traffic plans were made for the day for all across the country.
State broadcasterPTV Newsreported. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry chaired a meeting today to review security arrangements for Muharram.
It reported that home secretaries. police officials from all provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting, where arrangements for Muharram were comprehensively reviewed and a briefing was given on security arrangements for mourning processions and religious gatherings.
Chaudhry said during the meeting that protecting the lives and properties of citizens was the government’s top priority.
According toPTV News, home secretaries and law enforcement agencies were directed to make security arrangements more effective.
4 die due to ‘suffocation’ in Rohri
In Sukkur’s Rohri city, four people lost their lives due to suffocation. 14 were “lightly injured”, according to Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar.
Lanjar confirmed the casualties while speaking to the media after visiting the main “Nau Dhala” procession. a statement by his ministry said.
Heorderedthat “complete coordination” be maintained among the police, rescue. medical teams, and the district administration to deal with any emergency.
Accompanied by Sindh Assembly Speaker Awais Qadir Shah, the minister reviewed the security measures at the procession. affirmed that there was “100 per cent government writ in thekatchaareas”.
While Lanjar asserted that there was “no such area where the government’s writ was not present”. he acknowledged there were some “criminals” present against whom an operation was underway.
The minister warned that no negligence will be tolerated and issued directives for effective searching and snap-checking. He said all resources should be utilised for maintaining law and order and ensuring the protection of mourners.
Earlier in the day, the minister had conducted an aerial review of the security arrangements made for Muharram 9.
In Karachi, the traffic police had devised a plan for alternative routes for commuters as some roads were to remain closed for Muharram 9. 10 processions.
According to a press release issued by the Karachi deputy inspector general’s (DIG) office, the city’s M.A. Jinnah Road was closed to traffic from Gurumandir to Tower. It further said that the road from Jamshed Road to Gurumandir. Bahadur Yar Jang Road was closed from 10:30am to 1:30pm on Muharram 9.
Traffic police, in a post on X, also shared alternative routes for commuters to reach their destinations.
Separately. Karachi police said in a statement that 20,181 police personnel, including 1,329 from traffic police, had been deployed across the city on Muharram 9.
Among them, 6,843 had been assigned security for the main procession, the statement said, adding that additional police force, reserve force personnel. snipers had also been deployed along the route of the central procession.
Authorities in Islamabad also issued a traffic diversion plan,PTV Newsreported. adding that it would remain in place till the central procession’s conclusion. The state broadcaster shared the plan in a post on X.
The state minister for interior, along with Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IG) Syed Nasir Rizvi. other officials, visited the main procession to review the security measures.
Chaudhry said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was “personally monitoring the security arrangements for Muharram processions across the country from the main control room”.
As the procession began. IG Rizvi told the media outside Markazi Isna Ashari Imambargah that the overall security situation in the country, particularly the capital, had improved significantly.
However, he added that security arrangements for Muharram had been underway for the past one and a half months.
Around 16,000 personnel have been assigned security duties, with police, Rangers and the army deployed.
Security arrangements were made in five layers, with containers placed to block routes, scanners installed at procession entrances. control rooms established. Contingents of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) were stationed as well in case of any emergency.
The route of the procession was cleared by a modern bomb disposal squad. Female police and volunteers were deployed to conduct checks of women attending processions.
Under the security plan for Islamabad, Muharram processions. gatherings were to bemonitored digitallyby drones, while geo-tagging of allimambargahs,majalisvenues and procession routes had been completed.
Authorities had also launched a special mobile application. ‘MehfoozMuharram’, using which citizens can report any suspicious activity, individuals or inadequate security arrangements. The app has live location sharing and image sharing features.
Meanwhile, a central control room was established at Safe City. a “four-tier security cordon” was to be implemented to ensure the protection of Muharram processions and gatherings.
According toPTV News, more than 70,000 personnel were deployed for security across Punjab on Muharram 9.
It reported that Punjab IG Rao Abdul Kareem had instructed officials to ensure the implementation of Section 144, under which the provincial government hadbannedcarrying dangerous items, pillion riding. raising of slogans that could incite public sentiments.
Moreover. the report said, snipers had been deployed on buildings along the processions’ routes while personnel in plain clothes were also providing security to the processions.
Under the security plan for Punjab, over 152,000 police personnel were deployed for security throughout Muharram,. the army and Rangers had also beenrequisitionedfor the purpose.
Last week, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hadissued directivesfor the implementation of a three-tier security plan for Muharram.
She also appealed to the organisers of religious gatherings to immediately download. activate QR-coded panic buttons installed at 4,700 imambargahs across the province.
The CM was informed during a meeting last week that 47,280 religious gatherings. processions would be held across Punjab during Muharram, including 37,868majalisand 9,412 processions.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority was to carry out live digital monitoring of Muharram processions, the officials informed the CM, adding that 5,623 CCTV cameras had been activated across the province, while 1,040 body cameras. modern drones would be deployed for field surveillance. She was further informed that over 1,000 advanced 4G event cameras had also been installed at highly sensitive locations.
In Peshawar, police had chalked out a plan to deploy 12,000 personnel in the city for security during Muharram processions. It also shared a traffic plan and alternative routes for the day.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi visited Naeem Shah Chowk to review the security arrangements, which he praised. He called for the people to set aside their political affiliations and stand united for peace.
Kundi also visited a central control room established at the Supreme Command Post. a command room at the Police Lines.
Briefing the governor. Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Sanaullah said almost 90 per cent of the processions were being held in the Walled City.
A statement by police said that personnel from the city police, rapid response force, quick response force, ladies traffic police. bomb disposal units were to be deployed for security in Muharram.
It added that three-layered security would be provided to all mourning processions. while marksmen would be set up at high-rise buildings along the procession routes. In addition to this. 1,000 traffic personnel were also to be deployed to ensure the smooth flow of traffic across the city.
Similarly, bomb disposal units. sniffer dogs were to be deployed to sweep imambargahs,majalisand procession routes, the statement said, adding that personnel in plain clothes had also been deployed at sensitive locations and places of worship across the city.
Last week, KP IG Zulfiqar Hameeddirectedpolice officials to enhance daily coordination with district administrations. peace committees at the district level to prevent any unpleasant incident during Muharram.
Separately, a police statement said Muharram processions. religious gatherings on Ashura would be monitored through the Safe City camera network in Peshawar.
It further stated that 43,317 police personnel would be deployed across the province to perform security duties during Muharram,. Section 144 had been enforced in various districts of KP.
The statement said that out of 614 imambargahs across the province, 127 had been declared highly sensitive, 262 sensitive. 225 normal and that a total of 907 Muharram processions were expected to be taken out across the province, with 286 being highly sensitive, 190 sensitive and 431 normal.
On Wednesday, the Peshawar Transport Department alsoannouncedsuspension of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Muharram 9. 10 as part of security measures.
Authorities implemented extraordinary security measures to ensure peace and safety as the province observed Muharram 9 with deep religious reverence,APPreported.
It said the central mourning procession in Quetta was to be taken out from Alamdar Road. would conclude at Mominabad Imambargah in the evening after following its traditional routes.
The entry points to the procession routes were sealed using canopies, barbed wire, and heavy trucks. An emergency was declared in hospitals, while mobile. internet services remain suspended in Quetta and other areas of the province,APPreported.
Security arrangements included the deployment of police, Frontier Corps (FC), Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), Rapid Response Group (RRG),. Balochistan Constabulary personnel. The routes were thoroughly screened, with shops, markets, and buildings sealed in the presence of traders’ representatives.
In a statement carried byAPP, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti assured that the provincial government had made comprehensive arrangements for maintaining law. order and for facilitating mourners during Muharram, particularly on Ashura.
Additional reporting by Manzoor Ali, Asif Chaudhry and Mohammad Hussain Khan
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