Youm-e-Ashur on Saturday was observed throughout the country with due solemnity and reverence to pay homage to the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions at Karbala. On this occasion, mourning, Alam, Zuljinah and Taazia processions were taken out in all big and small cities amid tight security arrangements.
Ashura processions were monitored through Command and Control centers in big cities including Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Thousands of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were installed to make the security foolproof. The mourners were allowed to join the Ashura processions only after body search by security personnel and volunteers and crossing walk through gates.
In Karachi, the main procession was taken out from Nishtar Park which culminated at Imambargah Hussainia Irania. Over 13,000 security personnel were deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident.
In Lahore, the main procession was taken out from the Nisar Haveli. It terminated at Karbala Gamay Shah after passing through its traditional route.
In Rawalpindi, the main mourning procession was taken out from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain which terminated at Imambargah Qadeemi.
In Peshawar, over a dozen Alam, Zuljinah and Tazia processions were taken out. The main procession was taken out from Qissa Khawani Imam Bargah Alamdaar. Around 7000 police personnel were deployed for security of mourning processions and azadars to avert any untoward incident during Ashura Muharram.
In Quetta, the main procession was taken out from Alamdar Road. After passing through its traditional route it ended at its starting point.
Similarly, in Muzaffarabad, main procession was taken out from Markazi Imambargah Pir Ilam Shah Bukhari and culminated at the same place after passing through its traditional route.
Similarly, dozens of Taazia, Alam and Zuljinah processions were taken out in four districts of Baltistan region. In Skardu, the main procession was taken out from Imambargah Hussainabad which culminated at its starting point after reaching Qatal Shah and Ziarat-E-Shuhda-I-Karbala.
Majalis-e-Sham-e-Ghariban was also held at evening to pay homage to the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in Maidan-e-Karbala for the glory of Islam.
Meanwhile, elaborate security measures were taken by the government deploying thousands of military, para-military and police force to avoid any untoward incident.
Authorities on Saturday suspended cellular phone services in parts of country as part of security measures for Muharram processions and Majalis.
The services were suspended in 68 districts of the countries including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Dera Ismail Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Nasirabad, Sohbatpur and Dera Alahyar. The mobile phone services restored after evening.
In Quetta 5,000 policemen and 1,000 personnel of Frontier Corps (FC) were deployed across the city and security mounted for Ashura. Elaborate security arrangements were made to guard the main processions of 10th Muharram-ul-Harram in all the big and small towns of the country.
Three layers of security were in place, with all linking roads along the routes of the processions sealed off by placing containers and barbwires. Nobody was allowed to join the processions without security check. Pillion riding was completely banned in many cities.
In Rawalpindi over 6,000 policemen in uniform and plain clothes and personnel of Quick Respond Force were deployed to protect the main procession backed by surveillance with 450 CCTV cameras. Air surveillance was also carried out through helicopters. Similarly, 10 companies of Pakistan Rangers were also deployed to keep the city peaceful whereas 16 companies of Pakistan Army remained on standby position to tackle any situation. 1,766 Majalis were organised in different localities of Rawalpindi today while 316 big and small processions were taken out from different parts of the city that merged with the main procession of 10th Muharram.
The main procession of Islamabad was taken out from Markazi Imambargah Asna Ashri, sector G-6/2 and culminated peacefully after passing through its traditional route. Around 10,000 security personnel were deployed in the federal capital for security of processions. The routes of the main procession of Ashura were completely sealed and streets on the route of the processions were also barricaded.
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