Mourners peacefully observe Chehlum across Sindh

Around 46,000 police officers were deployed to ensure safety of participants

SUKKUR/ HYDERABAD/ KARACHI: Processions to mark the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) culminated peacefully amid tight security across the province on Monday.

More than 46,000 policemen were deployed across Sindh to ensure the security of the mourners and procession participants while mobile services remained suspended from afternoon to night.

A total of 17,950 police officials and personnel were deployed for security duties in Karachi and 5,727 cops ensured the security of the central procession. As many as 100 big and small mourning processions and 460 majalis were held in different parts of the metropolis.

Despite warnings of security threats issued over the last few days, the procession passed through its traditional route and concluded at the Hussainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.

The procession started after the majlis at Nishtar Park, where Shia community scholars shed light on the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions.

Later, the procession passed through Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Mehfil-e-Shah-e-Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, Preedy Street, Boulton Market, Bombay Bazaar, Kharadar, Nawab Mohabbat Khanjee Road and culminated at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.

After the central majlis, the main procession moved out from Nishtar Park. The mourners offered prayers on MA Jinnah Road. The congregation was organised by the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO).

All the streets around the route of the procession were sealed with containers, while shops and commercial areas were also sealed. Close-circuit cameras (CCTV) were also installed in order to keep a check on suspicious activity.

Medical camps and water stalls, known as sabeels, were set up along the route of the procession by various organisations and political parties such as the ISO, Jafaria Alliance, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Besides law enforcers, more than 4,000 volunteers from various organisations also performed security duty.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja took an aerial view of the chehlum procession to monitor its security arrangements. He directed the police to ensure strict security till the end of procession when moruners start returning to their homes.

Procession in Hyderabad

Tens of thousands of people turned up for the mourning procession, which originated from Qadam Gah Moula Ali, near Haider Chowk in downtown Hyderabad on Monday afternoon.

The procession then crossed its one-kilometre-long route, passing through Station Road, PS City Chowk, Lajpat Road, Society Chowk, PS Cantt, St Mary's Girls School and Raheem Shopping Centre and culminating at Karbala Dadan Shah.

Around 1,200 police officers and 250 volunteers, besides an unspecified number of Rangers personnel, performed duty for the security. The police divided the security into two zones and five sectors while sealing off all the roads and streets intersecting the procession's route.

Security in upper Sindh

Hundreds of big and small mourning processions were held throughout upper Sindh, including Sukkur, Rohri, Pano Akil, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Naushero Feroz, Larkana, Qamber-Shahdadkot and Dadu to mark Chehlum.

Strict security measures were adopted on the route of the mourning processions and law enforcers were deployed on the rooftops of buildings. Moreover, CCTV cameras were also installed to monitor activities.

In Sukkur and Rohri, all roads leading to the route of the mourning processions were sealed and people were allowed to enter after thorough physical checking. A large number of mourners from across the province participated in the mourning procession in Rohri, which was already declared very sensitive.

Thousands of the policemen, including commandos, female police officers, bomb disposal squad officials and others, and a heavy contingent of Rangers personnel were also on patrol.

Assembly session adjourned

Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani adjourned the session due to Chehlum. "Due to Chehlum, I suggest postponing the proceedings to [Tuesday]," said parliamentary minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro.

The agenda included calling attention to civic issues, adjournment motion on Gorakh Hill Station and consideration of Motor Vehicle (Amendment Bill), 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2016.