20,000 law enforcers protect Muharram 9 procession

MA Jinnah Road shut down, ambulances, rescue services stationed along route

KARACHI: To commemorate the sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), his family and companions, the main Muharram 9 procession ended at the Hussainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar Saturday evening amid strict security measures. Security precautions included a ban on pillion riding and suspension of mobile phone and internet services.

A majlis was held at Nishtar Park from where the main mourning procession began and passed through MA Jinnah Road, Saddar, Preedy Street and Baba-e-Urdu Road. A large number of men, women and children participated in the main procession.

Before turning onto Mansfield Street, mourners offered Zuhrain prayers near Imambargah Ali Raza after which the Imamia Students Organisation staged a demonstration and burnt the Israeli, American and Indian flags. They then marched on the procession’s traditional route. The procession entered Kharadar a little after sunset and completed its journey in more than five hours.

Strict security measures were taken by law enforcement agencies to avoid any untoward incident and more than 20,000 police officers and Rangers troops were deployed.



Six thousand of the 20,000 law enforcers were deployed only to protect the main procession and majalis. The same security arrangements will also be taken for the Ashura procession today (Sunday).

In addition to the deployment of law enforcers, round-the-clock surveillance was also conducted through 1,200 closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV). Shops in Saddar and other areas along the procession routes were closed and sealed. Owing to the security threats, the entire MA Jinnah Road was sealed from both sides and all entry and exits were blocked with containers. Not a single vehicle, except those with special permits, was allowed to come near the procession.

Police commandos and snipers were also deployed on building rooftops. Mourners were allowed to enter the processions only after going through body checks and walk-through gates. Besides law enforcers, nearly 5,000 scouts from various scout organisations, rescue services and the city administration also made necessary arrangements to facilitate the mourning procession.

Along MA Jinnah Road medical camps were established with doctors, nurses as well as paramedical staff. Water, sherbet, tea and biryani were also distributed amongst the mourners at sabeels set up along the procession route. The fire brigade, city wardens, ambulances and rescue units were on standby in case of emergency.



A ban had already been imposed on pillion riding in various districts of Sindh from Muharram 8 till Muharram 10 by the provincial government while cellular phone and internet services were also suspended for the three days till Ashura from 9am to 9pm. Senior Rangers and police officials also visited the central procession to review the security arrangements. Rangers Director-General Major General Muhammad Saeed also conducted aerial surveillance of the main procession on Saturday to review security arrangements.

Following the suspension of cellular services, welfare associations were using Whatsapp, PTCL and wireless services as alternatives. "A majority of our ambulances are with the main procession," said the Edhi spokesperson. "But for the citizens' help, we are using Whatsapp, PTCL and wireless services in case of emergency and the citizens can also approach us at our booths established in each area of the city."

200 processions in Hyderabad today

More than 200 mourning processions, likely to be attended by thousands of mourners, will be carried out in Hyderabad on Youm-e-Ashura today (Sunday). A deployment of over 5,200 personnel, including 4,000 policemen and 700 Rangers, besides scouts and volunteers, has been announced for the daylong security.



The central procession, organised by Anjuman-i-Imam Hyderi, will start from Karbala Dadan Shah in the morning and culminate at Qadam Gah Hazrat Ali (RA) around 5pm. As many as 52 streets and roads intersecting the one kilometre route have been sealed with barbed wires. Only one entry point has been kept at Dadan Shah and one exit point at Qadam Gah. Mourners will have to pass through walkthrough gates at the entrance.

The police have declared 17 of these processions 'very sensitive' and 18 others 'sensitive'. Some 77 majalis of Sham-e-Ghareeban would also take place on the day. Among them, four places have been classified 'very sensitive' and 12 'sensitive'.
The police have set up two separate control rooms to monitor the processions. One is located at the Hyderabad SSP's office and the other at the City police station, which is located on the route of many downtown processions as well as the central procession of Muharram 10.

Four watchtowers, in which personnel have been equipped with telescopes and night vision devices, have also been set up at different locations while closed-circuit television cameras have been installed along the way. Cellular networks will remain suspended from early morning till 10pm.