As many as 445 mourning processions were taken out whereas 3,644 Majalis were held on 9th Muharram-ul-Haraam throughout the province in which zakareen paid homage to the philosophy of Imam Hussain (RA), his supreme sacrifice and religious steadfastness. This was disclosed during a briefing regarding Muharram-ul-Haraam presided over by Senior Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa held here on Monday.
Punjab Auqaf Minister Haji Ehsaanuddin Qureshi, Advisor to CM Jehanzeb Barki, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MPA Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad, former MPA Haji Nawaz Ahmad, Secretary Home Punjab, Secretary Information and Culture, Secretary Auqaf, Secretary Health, IG Police Punjab, Additional Inspector General Police Special Branch, Additional Inspector General Police CTD, Director General Intelligence Bureau and Director General Rescue 1,122 attended the meeting. The participants expressed its satisfaction that 9th Muharram-ul-Haraam has passed peacefully throughout the province and strict security arrangements of mourners have been made by police and district administration. The meeting reviewed in detail the reports received from entire province regarding law and order. The meeting appreciating the co-operation of members of peace committees, Ulema and zakareen of various schools of thought said that the religious leadership has played an important role for creating sectarian harmony.
While addressing the participants Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa stressed that strict law and order and security arrangements be made on 10th of Muharram and no negligence be shown in this regard. He directed that besides other security arrangements, officials of special branch should remain with the processions for making the security of processions and mourners more effective. He further directed that there should be no person on the roofs of houses in the routes of processions and windows and doors kept close during processions' timings. Similarly, unknown persons should not be allowed in the houses. Zulfiqar Ali Khosa directed that no effort be spared in the security arrangements on 10th Muharram. He advised the people also to remain alert. He directed that the teams of health department and Rescue 1122 should accompany the mourning processions so that first aid could be provided immediately to the injured mourners.