Amid tight security: The peaceful march of mourners

Cellular service remains open; various roads in Sectors G-6 and G-7 blocked

HARIPUR/ PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD: The main Muharram 9 procession was taken out amid tight security in the capital on Saturday, with thousands of law-enforcers deployed and dozens of roads closed.

Thousands of people marched to pay homage to the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in Karbala.

The procession came out from Markazi Imambargah Sector G-6/2 around noon and after passing through its traditional route around sectors G-6 and G-7 to culminate at the same Imambargah in the evening.

Thousands of people including women and children mourning the pain of Imam Husain and his family attended the procession.

Effective security arrangements were made by the Islamabad police and the administration which included deployment of around 3,500 personnel of police, Rangers, and FC.

Various service roads in sectors G-6/2 and G-7/3 had been closed on Friday night with containers, concrete blocks and barbed wire. Due to closure of roads, the traffic remained thin and public transport was also short.

Many shopping centres were also partially closed. Because of road blocks, the Sector G-6 residents also faced difficulties as almost all streets had been cordoned off.

Islamabad Traffic Police also deployed its personnel in strength at every road block and diversion. Fazle Haq Road from China Chowk to Kulsum Plaza, Post Office Service Road, Saddar Road from Iqball Hall to Melody, Municipal Road from Lal Masjid to GPO, and Luqman Hakeem Road from Polyclinic to Iqbal Hall remained closed for all kind of traffic apart from various other service roads.



However, unlike many other cities the cellular service was not suspended in the capital. Authorities said they had increased the security around the procession instead of blocking mobile phone service. Bomb disposal squad also scanned the procession route.

As a precautionary measure, motorcycle pillion riding was also banned in whole of Islamabad. The ban came into effect on September 27 and will remain in place until October 1.

Rawalpindi

The procession in Rawalpindi was taken out from Fatmia Chattian Hattian and culminated after passing through traditional routes at Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain.

As the mourners came out flagellating themselves in memory of the sacrifices of the family of Holy Prophet, police and paramilitary troops cordoned of the entire route of the procession.

There was complete lockdown with major roads blocked with containers and many streets cut off with concrete blocks and barbed wire.

As many as 3,000 armed policemen, Rangers, Punjab Constabulary and elite force were deployed in Rawalpindi to give security cover to the Muharram procession.

No one was allowed to stand on rooftops of commercial and residential buildings situated along the routes of mourning processions and carrying the weapons.

CCTV cameras and walk through gates was installed and aerial surveillance of mourning processions was made to ensure fool-proof security. Police along with Rangers kept strict watch on the movement of the procession.

Haripur

The Muharram 9 procession in Haripur emerged from Markazi Imambargah Sajjadia Husania Sain Saheli. The procession proceeded on its traditional route and ended peacefully without any incident.

People, including women and children performed the traditional matam by beating their chests. Charged men took to oozing blood from bladed-chains in memory of the pains the Imam Husain and his companions suffered in Karbala.

Police and law enforcement agencies had cordoned of the route of the procession. At least 500 policemen escorted the mourners. The route was marked with barbed wires and people were allowed to join the procession from walk-though gates only after a body-pat.

Sharpshooters were positioned on buildings along the route of the procession, while CCTV cameras were in place at important intersections.

As part of security measures, the administration had banned entry of Afghan refugees on the city limits, besides, pillion riding on motorbikes.

Hazara Region DIG Saeed Khan and Commissioner Hazara also survyed the procession route and checked the security arrangements. They said the civil administration and police have done their best to provide security.

Peshawar

With an aim to provide security to the Ashura processions, the whole of Peshawar city was sealed on Saturday whereas the major thoroughfare were blocked for all type of vehicular traffic to provide peaceful environment to mourners for self-flagellation and observing the rituals of Ashura.

The central ‘Alm and Zuljinah’ procession emerged from Imambargah Hussainia Hall in Sadar Bazar and culminated peacefully at the same point after passing through the prescribed route.

Zuljinah Majalis were also held in the city where Shia were mourning the death of Hazrat Iman Hussain(AS) in the event of Karbala.

Processions were attended by men, women and children clad mostly in black clothes. Other processions taken out were from Imambargah Qamar Bin Hashim, Imambargah Zikri Bibi Sahiba and Imambargah Saeen Zareen Imamia Colony.

Other processions have been scheduled to be taken out from Imam Bargah Bibi Sahiba, Mohalla Bibi Zikri, Imam Bargah Agha Sayed Ali Shah Rizvi, Kocha Jan,Alamdar and Kocha Risaldar in Qissa Khwani Bazar on Muharram 9 and 10. All the major markets including Saddar Bazar, Khyber Bazar, Qissa Khwani Bazar, markets situated on University Road were closed while public holiday was observed in all public and private institutions in the city on account of Ashura.

Security arrangements

Heightened security arrangements were made to avoid any untoward situations. GT Road was closed and traffic was diverted to Dalazak Road while no one was allowed to enter the interior city expect those having special entry pass issued from police department.

Before taking out the processions by the mourners, all the routes are first cleared by the police, bomb disposal squads and other concern security agencies.

Other towns

In Dera Ismail Khan mourning procession emerged from Imam Bargah Bamoo Shah and ended peacefully after passing through its traditional route.

Similarly in Hangu, the mourners started from the house of Sheikh Jawad Hussain and ended the procession after going through the designated routes.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2017.