Amid tight security arrangements, suspension of mobile, and wireless internetservice, the 'Yaum-e-Ashura' was observed to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazarat Imam Hussain (AS), grandson of Prophet Hazarat Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions in Karbala.
Smalll and large mourning processions were taken out in Peshawar, and rest parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ended peacefully after passing through traditional routes.
To recall the unprecedented sacrifices of Karbala Martyrs, the main procession of mourners was taken out from Imambargah Syed Ali Raza, Koochi Bazar that after passing through traditional routes culminated at the same location at late night, while mourning processions were taken out from Imambargah Sakhi Munawar Shah, Pir Gulab Shah, Makri Godam, Hashtangri, Gulbahar and other cities, and districts including Kohat, Hangu, D I Khan, Hazara, Chitral in the province. Mourners include women and children, wearing black-dress participated in processions.
On the occasion, security was clamped high alert, as more than 7,500 personnel of police and law-enforcement agencies were assigned duties to protecting mourning processions in Peshawar, while security was also beefed up in Bannu and Hangu, in a bid to foil any subversive activities of terrorists and maintain law and order on Ashura. More than four districts was declared most sensitive include Peshawar, Tang, Hangu and D I Khan.
Most of roads leading to bazaars, markets, important buildings, residences of VIPs, hotels, remain closed, by placing concrete blocks and barbed wires throughout the day. The provincial metropolis Peshawar presented a deserted look as all shopping plazas and markets including hotels were closed for security measures and people preferred to stay at home.
A body search was conducted of mourners by police and volunteers before entering the processions, while walks-through gates also put on place on entry points of the Imambargahs. Police and security personnel were deployed at rooftops of houses and towering buildings to monitor routes of processions, and no one was allowed to witness processions from rooftops of commercial and residential buildings. Pillion riding was strictly banned, while all kind of vehicular traffic remained suspended on the leading roads in the provincial capital. An aerial surveillance was done for monitoring of mourning processions in most sensitive districts.
Like-wise in other parts of province, Muharram was observed with religious fervour in D I Khan, Hangu, Bannu, and various processions of mourners were taken out from different areas, including Diwala and Qassaaban, ending at Kotli Imambargah, Circular Road. Security was beefed up in sensitive areas and check posts were erected on all entrances of the city for the safety of devotees while no unpleasant incident was reported.
In Upper Kurram Agency, the main procession of mourners was taken out after Asr prayer and passing through Hazara Graveyard and traditional routes ended at Main Imambargah, Parachinar. Strict security measures were taken by security agencies and roads connecting to adjoining area were monitored vigilantly.
Later, Shia Ulema and leaders highlighted the supreme sacrifices of Hazarat Imam Hussain, along with 72 of his companions, including friends and family members, according to history, were martyred at the hand of Yazid's troops at the battle of Karbala, Iraq in 61 AH (680 AD) after Imam Hussain rejected to make allegiance for Yazid despotic rule.
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