Police issue traffic plans for Ashura processions

Luqman Hakeem, 7th Avenue, Fazle Haq Roads among others to be shut, diversions to be set up

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) on  Saturday issued traffic plans for various Muharram processions which will be taken out in the city from Sunday to Thursday.

In this regard, the police said they would deploy a total of 450 officials, including three DSPs and 19 inspectors, to regulate traffic around the procession routes.

A procession will be taken out on Muharram 7 from House 818 in Sector I-10/4 after Maghrib prayers and will conclude at Imambargah Musa Kazim in Sector I-10/1 at 10pm. Diversion points would be set up for the procession at the I-10/4 double road and CDA Chowk on the IJ Principal Road. However, the IJP Road and I-10 Service Road will remain open for traffic.

Another procession on Muharram 7 will be taken out between House 209-D Sector G-7/3-2 and Markazi Imambargah G-6/2.

On Muharram 8, a procession will be taken out from Jamia Murtaza in G-9/4 and will culminate at Jamia Imam Sadiq in G-9/2 between Zohar and Maghrib prayers. In this regard, Kashmir Highway turn for G-9, G-10 double road, Kurram Road, and street number 16 and 19 in G-9/2 will be closed.

Another procession will be taken out on Monday from Ali Masjid in G-7/2 from 8pm to 10pm. A third major procession will be emerge from House No 28-A G-7/3-4 and conclude at the Markazi Imambargah G-6/2 from 9pm to 10:30pm.

The main procession on Muharram 9 will be taken out from the Markazi Imambargah in G-6/2 and will culminate at the same venue at 6:30pm after passing through Luqman Hakeem Road, G-6 Service Road, Saddar Road, streets 33 and 40, Municipal Road, Aabpara Police Station, and Polyclinic hospital.  On Muharram 9, another procession will be taken out from Imambargah Musa Kazim in I-10/1 from midnight to 5am.

Traffic wardens will be deputed at all diversion points to guide the motorists. Participants of processions have been advised to park their vehicles at designated places.

Parking along the procession routes has also been banned.

Pindi processions

In Rawalpindi, the main procession of Muharram 7 will be taken out at 9pm and will pass through Bashir Hussain road, Fawara Chowk, Dingi Khoi Chowk, Bansawala chowk before culminating at Imambargah Qadeemi on Iqbal Road.

A tazia will be taken out at 8pm passing from the house of Abbas Ali to Nia Moh chowk before joinng with the main procession and proceed to Imambargah Qadeemi.

Another procession will be taken out at 4pm from the Imambargah Sadaat Pindora to Madina Chowk before returning to the imambargah.

Another procession will be taken out from Sain sadiq’s house and will proceed to Transfarmer chowk then onwards to Charah chowk, moving through Shah sultan, on to Zafarul Haq road, Murree road before culminating at Imambargah Qadeemi. A fifth procession will be taken out at midnight from Imambargah Qaser-e-Abbas to main road in Dehri Hassanabad.

with additional input from our corespondent in Rawalpindi

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2016.