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Mourners are taking out processions across the country today (Tuesday) to observe Yaum-i-Ashura amid tight security arrangements and with cellular services suspended in several areas.
Yaum-i-Ashura is observed every year on Muharram 10 with solemnity to pay homage to Imam Hussain and other martyrs of Karbala.
Karachi
The main procession in Karachi, which was taken out from Nishtar Park at 9:00am, will culminate at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah along MA Jinnah Road, according to a press release issued by traffic police.
During the course of this journey, mourners will cover Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Road, Mehfil-i-Shah-i-Khorasan, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield street, Preedy street and Bolton Market.
Meanwhile, traffic from this route would be diverted towards Jubilee Market, Nishtar Road and other areas, the traffic police press release said.
In Karachi and other major cities of Sindh, more than 55,000 police and Rangers personnel have been deployed for the security of mourning processions and mobile phone and internet services are to remain suspended under a comprehensive security plan for Ashura.
Among them, 12,000 policemen have been deployed in Karachi, where a total of 5,056 majalis and 5,520 processions are being taken out, according to a Dawn report. Around 7,000 policemen in addition to 4,960 Rangers personnel have been deployed to guard the main Ashura procession in the city, the report said.
Earlier, South DIG Sharjil Kharal told Dawn the Pakistan Army would be on standby in case of any emergency in the city.
The Sindh government last week imposed a ban on pillion riding and the use of helicams or drones for video recording by media channels during processions and majalis from Muharram 8 (Aug 7) to 10 (Aug 9).
Peshawar
In Peshawar, the day’s first procession commenced at Imambargah Agha Najaf Ali Shah while cellular phone services remain suspended.
Altogether, 12 processions are to be taken out in the city, the Dawn.com correspondent in Peshawar said.
Tight security arrangements have been made for Ashura in the city, with around 11,000 police personnel deployed to guard mourning processions, same as on Muharram 9, he said.
Quetta
The main procession in Quetta commenced at Imambargah Hussainiya Syedabad on Alamdar Road, and will pass through Toghi Road, Liaquat Bazaar and Prince Road to return to Alamdar Road, where it will culminate around 8pm, according to a statement issued by the Balochistan Shia Conference.
During the course, Shia scholars would deliver speeches at Bacha Khan Chowk, where Zuhr prayers would be offered, the statement said.
According to Quetta DIG Fida Hussain, strict security measures have been implemented on the route of the procession, along which 5,000 police personnel have been deployed. Frontier Corps personnel and those from other law enforcement agencies have also been deployed to guard the procession, he said in a statement.
The DIG said CCTV cameras would be employed for air surveillance, adding commercial centres along the procession’s routes were sealed and road had been blocked for traffic.
Mobile phone services in the city would remain suspended from 6am to 8pm, he said, adding that three battalions of the Pakistan Army were on standby.
Earlier, a Dawn report quoted him as saying that 24 imambargahs had been declared highly sensitive in the city while 23 sensitive.
Majalis were being held in 57 imambargahs while women’s majalis were going on in 20 takiya khanas, he said, adding that 21 permanent gates and 49 gates had been set up for meetings across Quetta and patrolling of security forces increased in and around the city.
Islamabad
The main procession in Islamabad was taken out from Islamabad Qasr-i-Zainabia, a tweet by Islamabad police said.
Earlier, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said mobile phone services would remain suspended on Muharram 10 and 11 in the capital. Mobile phone services would not be available on Muharram 10 from 10am to 4pm and from 9am till 10pm in areas of Bari Imam on Muharram 11, the deputy commissioner said.
Meanwhile, Dawn reported that the security level in Rawalpindi was raised to ‘red alert’ and 6,000 law enforcement personnel were in the district, as well as snipers on rooftops of buildings located along the route of the main procession.
The report said city areas would remain under tight security with roads closed for traffic and additional checkpoints and barriers set up.
A police spokesperson told Dawn that foolproof security arrangements had been made for Muharram 10 over 1,000 personnel had been deployed to perform traffic duties.
Moreover, the report said pillion riding, display of weapons and use of loudspeakers would be banned and legal action would be taken if the bans were violated.
PM’s message
In his message on Ashura, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Imam Hussain’s message of “resistance and defiance will continue to inspire humanity to aspire for a moralistic world order that is based on universal principles of equality and freedom”.
He said the “supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his family drew a distinct line between the forces of truth and falsehood, and the oppressor and the oppressed.
“The great Imam established a moral principle that has animated the struggles for the right to self-determination”.
The PM stressed the need for seeking guidance from the “exemplary character” of Imam Hussain and his companions as “humanity navigates multiple challenges and seeks to break the logjam it finds itself in”.