9th Muharram's procession peacefully concludes in Karachi

The ninth Muharram procession peacefully concluded on Monday amid strict security arrangements.
Devotees holding flags in hands inscribed with religious scriptures chanted and marched through speculated routes for the mourning procession. Aerial surveillance by the helicopters continued to monitor the entire procession route from Peoples Chowrangi to Kharadar. Rangers and police personnel laid strict security shields to the route to foil untoward incidents and facilitate the mourners.
The provincial govt has imposed ban on pillion riding across Sindh, including Karachi, on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. Mobile services remained suspended along the routes of procession across the city.
Sindh Minister for Information & Archives and Labour Saeed Ghani attended a Majlis (congregation) held in Nishtar Park. Saeed Ghani met with the organisers of the Majlis and reviewed the arrangements. The organisers of the Majlis expressed their satisfaction over the security plans and other arrangements.
The Minister told the organisers that the Sindh government had made foolproof security arrangements for Majalis to be held on ninth of Muharram and Ashura. All the procession routes were being constantly monitored, he said. He said that the hospitals and ambulance services were also on high alert. While the staff of the local administration would also be present to facilitate the mourners, he added.
Saeed Ghani said that after taking notice of the leaked sewers urgent directives had been issued to the Managing Director of Karachi Water & Sewerage Board and other concerned officers for the rectification.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Syed Kaleem Imam personally monitored the main processions took out on Muharram 9th has placed the department itself on high alert for Muharram 9th and 10th.
The police chief of the province said that despite fool proof security arrangements and close coordination among the law enforcement agencies no complacency, at any level, could be afforded.
In his directives to the officers and the junior staff, he said, advisory issued by the Central Command and Control Centre must strictly be complied with.
All Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and Station House Officers, he said ought to ensure their presence in their respective jurisdiction and duly report status of their areas, in particular context of congregations being held and processions taken out during Ashura.
Emphasising that presence of cops deployed on sensitive points across the province must be monitored and they be regularly briefed about the status, provincial police chief said adequate arrangements for drinkable water and lunch must also be ensured for the cops on duty. Dr Syed Kaleem Imam reiterated that negligence towards implementation of Muharram Contingency Plan would not be tolerated at any cost.