Muharram processions: Security tightened across Pakistan

Interior ministry issues orders to restrain public, private transport near all Imambargahs.


Express December 05, 2011

Security has been beefed up across the country Monday in order to maintain peace as processions advance in all cities for the ninth and 10th of Muharram.

A large number of mourners are participating in the processions.

The interior ministry has issued orders to restrain public and private transport near all the Imambargahs within a 500-metre range.

The ministry has also issued directives to police chiefs and chief secretaries in all provinces.

A control room, headed by Interior Minister Rehman Malik in the National Crisis Management Cell has been designated to monitor the situation.

All link roads leading to the ‘potential trouble spots’ will be closed for public and police officials with moveable barriers have been deployed at the entry and exit points of the areas of the sensitive Imambargahs.

Police have been directed to conduct thorough checking and screening of all vehicles, motorcycles and rickshaws. Effective patrolling would protect sensitive areas. Security would also be provided to women’s processions.

Karachi

A procession started from a congregation at Nishter Park which is on its way towards Husainiya Iraniya Imambargah.

The participants will offer prayers in Ali Raza Imambargah situated at the MA Jinnah Road.

Security forces have sealed the roads on which the procession is underway.

Lahore

Shiites from Nicholson Street and Mughalpura area initiated a procession, while the central processions will be carried out from Islampura and Pando Street, which will lead towards Nisar Haweli.

Peshawar

A procession will start from Hussainiya Hall in Saddar and Bibi Zakariya Imambargah.

Dera Ismail Khan

Processions started from Imambargah Hamuh Shah in the city which reached Lato Faqir.

The Army has taken the control of sensitive areas and a curfew has been imposed there.

Prime Minister Gilani calls for following principals of Hazrat Imam Hussain

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani called on the people to follow the principles espoused by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), for the security of Pakistan and glory of Islam.

In a message on the occasion of Youm-e-Ashura, the premier said, “We can become an ideal society if we adopt the principles of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) in our individual and collective lives.”

COMMENTS (16)

KH | 12 years ago | Reply

@Ch Allah Daad: Your spirit for work really inspired me but what do you say about the call for holidays on all 4 Caliphs' days as a religious wing of our beloved country has been demanding for a long time?

bigsaf | 12 years ago | Reply

@Abdullah: Shops along the route usually do remain closed, which isn't uncommon for solemn parades in some countries, but not in all parts of the city, including in Pakistan.

While admittedly organization and flow could be better, this also happens on nationalist holidays - why is that not noted?

Occupy Wall Street was seen as a nuisance by some city folks, yet they mostly had their rights protected without threat of violence.

But let's face it...it's not being about pragmatism...your arguments are driven by serious prejudice against the Shia minorities to the point of where you sympathize with banned bigoted extremist outfit SSP or otherwise known as ASWJ. You won't be happy until there's virtually no sign or mention of them to fulfill your own ideological comfort zone.

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