Mourners flagellate during the procession on Saturday. PHOTO: TARIQ HASAN/EXPRESS
LAHORE/BAHAWALPUR/DERA GHAZI KHAN:
The Shabeeh Zuljinnah procession ended at Karbala Gamay Shah on Saturday night after a 22-hour journey through various imambargahs in the Walled City.
Agha Shah Hussain Qizilbash led the concluding prayer.
The procession had started from Nisar Haveli near Mochi Gate at around 10pm on Friday (October 23). It marched through Chowk Nawab Sahib, Akbari Mandi, Masjid Wazir Khan, Rang Mahal Chowk, Paniwala Talab, Bazaar Hakiman, Koocha Qazi Khana, Koocha Miskeenan, Mohalla Peer Gillanian, Chauhatta Mufti Baqir, Chowk Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazaar, Sonehri Masjid, Dabbi Bazaar, Gumti Bazaar, Said Mittha Bazaar, Tehsil Bazaar, Ucchi Masjid and Bhatti Gate Chowk. Along the way, it stopped at Imambargah Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Imambargah Maulvi Feroz Ali and Imambargah Syed Rajab Ali Shah among others.
The mourners held majlis-i-azadari at each of the stopovers. They thumped their chests and flagellated themselves to remember the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).
Volunteers associated with the Anjuman Shia Haider-e-Karrar had set up stalls along the route of the processions to serve meals and beverages to the mourners. Other Ashura processions were held at Islampura, Old Anarkali, Ghaziabad, Nickholson Road and Imamia Colony.
Home Secretary Major Azam Suleman Khan said the government was satisfied with the performance of its officials during the first 10 days of Muharram. However, he said a red alert issued for security measures would remain in place till the end of the month.
After a three-day break, the Civil Secretariat, its affiliate institutes and schools and colleges will re-open on Monday (today). In Bahawalpur Division, 204 processions and 84 other gatherings were held to remember the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).
As many as 10,000 police and elite force officials were deployed for security of these processions. Cooperatives Minister Malik Iqbal Channar monitored security arrangements at the imambargahs in the city. He said security arrangements were finalised in consultation with scholars from all schools of thought and traders’ associations.
Divisional Commissioner Saqib Zafar and Regional Police Officer Ehsan Sadiq remained in Rahim Yar Khan to oversee security arrangements at sensitive imambargahs.
In Dera Ghazi Khan, 126 processions and six majalis were arranged to mark the Muharram 10th.
The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue1122) provided first aid to 24,289 mourners during Ashura processions across the province. Rescue 1122 director general Brig (r) Arshad Zia said 211 injured were moved to nearby hospitals. At a briefing at the provincial monitoring cell (PMC), he said over 5,000 rescue officials were deployed with 442 processions and 339 majalis across the province. He said they were equipped with 200 ambulances, 96 fire fighting vehicles and 33 other emergency vehicles.
Arrangements were made at prisons across the province for Shi’ite inmates to hold majalis to honour the memory of Hazrat Imam (RS). Prisons Incharge Asad Cheema oversee arrangements.
In Lahore, certificates were awarded to wardens for ensuring smooth flow of traffic over the weekend.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2015.
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