9th Muharram processions conclude across country amid tight security

State Minister Talal Chaudhry orders strict security measures to ensure peaceful observance of Muharram

Processions marking the 9th of Muharram concluded peacefully in major cities across the country, including Karachi. Lahore, on Thursday amid tight security arrangements, with authorities deploying thousands of security personnel and monitoring routes to ensure public safety.

The day was being observed across Pakistan with solemnity. reverence, commemorating the seventh-century martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his companions in the Battle of Karbala.

Processions are being taken out in major. smaller cities across the country, including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar, under heightened security, with mobile phone services suspended in some areas and key locations sealed amid concerns over potential security threats.

Authorities in Karachi, Lahore,. Rawalpindi deployed tens of thousands of police personnel, sealed sensitive areas, and partially suspended mobile phone services in efforts to prevent any untoward incidents.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry chaired a high-level meeting on Muharram security arrangements earlier in the day, with home secretaries. senior police officials from all provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), in attendance.

وزیر مملکت داخلہ طلال چوہدری کی زیر صدارت محرم الحرام کے سکیورٹی انتظامات بارے اجلاستمام صوبوں بشمول آزاد کشمیر اور گلگت بلتستان کے ہوم سیکرٹریز اور پولیس حکام کی اجلاس میں شرکتمحرم الحرام کے جلوسوں اور مجالس کے سکیورٹی پلان پر تفصیلی بریفنگ، انتظامات کا جامع جائزہمحرم…pic.twitter.com/gG59OXEIfr

Participants received a detailed briefing on security plans for Muharram processions. religious gatherings, while a comprehensive review of arrangements across the country was conducted.

The meeting emphasised the need to maintain law and order and ensure foolproof security during Muharram. Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry said protecting the lives and property of citizens during Muharram was the government's foremost responsibility.

The minister assured provincial authorities of the federal government's full support and directed them to communicate any additional assistance required.

He also instructed home secretaries. law enforcement agencies to further strengthen security measures to ensure the peaceful observance of Muharram across the country.

In Karachi. the central procession concluded peacefully after passing through its designated route under stringent security arrangements put in place by the South Zone police.

According to officials, comprehensive security measures were implemented for the procession, which began after a majlis at Nishtar Park. proceeded along its scheduled route.

More than 6,500 police officers and personnel were deployed to ensure the security of the procession and other sensitive locations. Strict checking was carried out at entry and exit points as part of the security plan.

Read:Balochistan, K-P partially suspend mobile service

Additional Inspector General of Police Karachi, accompanied by the DIG South, reviewed the procession route. security arrangements during the event.

Authorities also maintained continuous monitoring of the procession through the Command and Control Room.

The procession passed through its designated routes and concluded peacefully at Imambargah Hussainia Iranian, Kharadar, officials said

Meanwhile. traffic police announced a comprehensive traffic plan for the central Muharram processions on the 9th. 10th of Muharram, with several major roads closed and motorists advised to use alternative routes.

8، 9 اور 10 محرم الحرام 1448ھ کے مرکزی جلوسوں کے دوران شہریوں کی سہولت اور ٹریفک کی روانی برقرار رکھنے کے لیے خصوصی ٹریفک انتظامات کیے گئے ہیں۔ عوام الناس سے گزارش ہے کہ متبادل راستے اختیار کریں اور رہنمائی کے لیے ٹریفک ہیلپ لائن 1915 پر رابطہ کریں۔https://t.co/t1WzYn8UO2pic.twitter.com/SNK6jzroQM

According to the plan. the central procession would proceed from Nishtar Park to the Hussainian Iranian Imambargah via its traditional route. Traffic heading towards MA Jinnah Road from Numaish, Guru Mandir, Society Light Signal. adjoining roads would be diverted to alternative routes during procession timings.

It added that heavy traffic would not be allowed to enter the city centre. while designated parking areas had been arranged for participants attending the processions. Authorities have urged mourners to park vehicles only in authorised parking spaces and avoid parking on procession routes.

The traffic police said more than 1,000 personnel would be deployed to manage traffic flow and assist commuters. Citizens have been advised to plan their journeys in advance. contact the traffic helpline for guidance on diversions and road closures.

Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) issued a comprehensive traffic management plan for the central 9th Muharram procession. advised commuters to use alternate routes to avoid inconvenience.

آئی جی اسلام آباد سید علی ناصر رضوی کی اسلام آباد G-6 امام بارگاہ کے باہر میڈیا سے گفتگو۔نو محرم الحرام کا مرکزی جلوس G-6 اسلام آباد سے برآمد ہوتا ہے۔ نحرم الحرام کے سکیورٹی انتظامات گزشتہ ڈیڑھ ماہ سے چل رہئے تھے، 9 محرم الحرام کے جلوس کے سخت سکیورٹی کیے گئے ہیں۔ آئی جی اسلام…pic.twitter.com/c98AhebVaj

Speaking to the media outside the G-6 Imambargah. Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi said security preparations for Muharram had been underway for the past six weeks.

Rizvi said containers had been placed along key routes to restrict access. while armoured personnel carriers (APCs) had also been deployed. He added that digital surveillance was being used to monitor the procession,. special control rooms had been established to oversee security operations.

Around 16,000 security personnel have also been deployed, with authorities implementing a five-layer security plan and enhanced surveillance measures.

An ITP official toldAPPon Wednesday that the central procession would commence at 1:00 pm from Imambargah Asna Ashri. G-6/2, while traffic diversions would be enforced from 7:00 am until the conclusion of the procession on major roads surrounding the route.

The official said the procession would proceed through G-6 Service Road, Sadar Road, Street No. 33, Street No. 40, Municipal Road, Melody Chowk, Shuhada Chowk, Aabpara Police Station, Polyclinic. Luqman Hakeem Road before concluding at Imambargah Asna Ashri, G-6/2.

According to the traffic plan, the following roads will remain closed for traffic during the procession:

Fazal-e-Haq Road from Kulsum Plaza Chowk to China Chowk (both sides). Suhrawardy Road from Daman-e-Koh Chowk via Blue Area Out Loop to 7th Avenue Chowk (both sides), Sadar Road from Iqbal Hall to Melody Chowk (both sides).

Municipal Road from Lal Masjid to Shuhada Chowk. GPO Chowk (both sides), Luqman Hakeem Road from Polyclinic to Iqbal Hall.

The official advised motorists travelling between Kulsum Plaza Chowk and China Chowk to use Jinnah Avenue as an alternate route.

Similarly, commuters may use Jinnah Avenue, Suhrawardy Road and Margalla Road to avoid congestion in the affected areas. Residents travelling through the Aabpara sector have been advised to use Suhrawardy Road. while Shaheed-e-Millat Road may also be used as an alternate route.

The official requested citizens to use alternate routes during the procession. cooperate with traffic police personnel to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Participants in the procession were advised to park their vehicles and motorcycles only in designated parking areas.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government finalised a comprehensive security plan for the observance of Ashura (9th. 10th Muharram) across the province, and as part of the security measures, mobile phone services have been partially suspended in selected areas.

According to security officials. mobile phone services would be completely suspended in some areas, while partial restrictions would be imposed in other sensitive locations. The measures are aimed at maintaining law and order and preventing any untoward incident during the religious observances.

The authorities have declared a total of 400 Imambargahs across K-P as sensitive or highly sensitive. In addition, 286 processions have been categorised as highly sensitive, while 190 processions have been placed in the sensitive category.

Authorities also sealed Peshawar today as the city observed 9th Muharram under stringent security arrangements, with around 12,000 police officers. personnel deployed to ensure the safety of mourners.

According to officials, two major Zuljinah processions are scheduled to be taken out during the day. The first procession will commence at 11am from Hussainia Hall Imambargah in Saddar. while the second will begin at 4pm from Bibi Sahiba Imambargah in Tehsil Ganj.

In total. 16 processions are expected to be held across the city on the eve of Ashura, while 22 majlis gatherings have also been scheduled.

Security has been tightened across the provincial capital, with police establishing checkpoints on all entry and exit routes.

Lahore also saw peaceful observance of 9th Muharram, with thousands of mourners attending majalis. processions in remembrance of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala amid tight security arrangements.

The main procession commenced from Pandu Street in Krishan Nagar, Islam Pura,. passed through its designated route via Neeli Bar Chowk and Civil Secretariat Chowk before culminating at Imambargah Khaima-e-Sadat.

Congregational prayers were offered at designated points along the route, while participants continued noha recitations, matam. other traditional rituals throughout the procession.

On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, extensive arrangements were put in place to facilitate mourners. Security personnel, Rescue 1122 teams, Civil Defence officials, volunteers, mobile medical units. field hospitals remained deployed along procession routes to ensure smooth conduct of events.

Read More:Pindi tightens security for Muharram processions

In a first for the province, anti-smog guns. sprinkler systems were used to spray water and rose water to help reduce the impact of intense heat and improve conditions for participants.

According to the Punjab Home Department, more than 37,800 majalis. over 9,400 processions are being monitored across the province through an integrated digital surveillance system during Muharram.

It said more than 124,000 police personnel have been deployed, while CCTV cameras, drones, body-worn cameras. the Provincial Control Room are providing round-the-clock monitoring of processions and other sensitive locations to ensure public safety and maintain law and order.

Authorities have put Quetta on high alert. imposed extraordinary security measures for the central 9th and 10th Muharram processions, with key routes sealed, mobile phone services suspended and thousands of security personnel deployed across the city.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) City Asif Ghafoor said the central 9th Muharram mourning procession would be taken out from Imambargah Nasir-ul-Aza on Mekangi Road at 2pm on Thursday. He said all roads adjoining the procession route had been sealed with barriers, fencing. barbed wire to prevent any untoward incident.

According to the SSP, personnel from the police, Balochistan Constabulary, Levies Force, Frontier Corps (FC), Quick Response Force (QRF). other law-enforcement agencies have been deployed in large numbers along procession routes and at sensitive locations. Additional contingents have also been stationed at key points across the city.

Ghafoor said mobile phone services would remain suspended from 6am to 8pm on 9th Muharram. adding that similar stringent security arrangements would be enforced for the central Ashura procession.

The main 10th Muharram procession is scheduled to be taken out from Alamdar Road at 8am. for which a separate security plan has been devised. Authorities will monitor the procession through an extensive network of CCTV cameras. while aerial surveillance has also been arranged to maintain constant oversight of the security situation.

Special control rooms have been established at the offices of the Inspector General of Police, Balochistan. the Deputy Inspector General of Police Quetta, from where security arrangements for the processions and the overall situation in the city will be monitored round the clock.

The SSP said strict checking. surveillance measures had also been put in place at the city's entry and exit points to regulate movement and strengthen security.

He added that the provincial government had declared seven districts of Balochistan, including Quetta, as sensitive during Muharram. As part of the security plan, mobile networks have been temporarily suspended in these districts,. additional preventive measures have been introduced to maintain law and order.

Ghafoor said all relevant institutions were fully mobilised to ensure the peaceful conduct of Muharram processions and religious gatherings. He urged citizens to cooperate with security personnel and immediately report any suspicious individuals or activity to the authorities.

More than 1,100 traffic police officers. personnel will be deployed across Rawalpindi on Ashura to implement a special traffic plan, with authorities announcing road closures and diversions along major procession routes.

Chief Traffic Officer Farhan Aslam said foolproof traffic arrangements had been put in place to facilitate mourners. maintain traffic flow during Ashura processions.

Under the plan, traffic will be barred from entering Iqbal Road from Committee Chowk, while diversions at DAV College Chowk will restrict access to College Road. Fawara Chowk. Additional diversions will be enforced at City Saddar Road, Cinema Chowk, Shah Allah Ditta Road, Banni Chowk, Hamilton Chowk,. Banswala Chowk.

Traffic heading towards the historic Baltistania Imambargah from Pir Choha Chowk will also be restricted. while routes around Imambargah Yadgar Hussaini in Satellite Town will be diverted during the procession.

Aslam said traffic would be redirected to alternative routes in phases as processions move through the city. He urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel towards Raja Bazaar on Ashura. called for public cooperation to help ensure smooth traffic flow and security arrangements.

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