Chehlum processions conclude peacefully

Markets sealed, roads blocked, snipers deployed across the province

KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Processions for Hazrat Imam Hussain’s (RA) Chehlum concluded peacefully amid tight security on Friday. Over 7,000 police and Rangers personnel were deployed to ensure the security of the participants, with snipers posted on rooftops of the buildings along the route of the central procession.

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 central majlis was held at Nishtar Park where a Shia scholar paid tribute to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala.

A total of nearly 100 small processions reached MA Jinnah Road to join the central procession while 460 majalis were held in the city. This congregation was organised by the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO). After the prayers, a protest demonstration was also held on MA Jinnah Road.

https://i1.tribune.com.pk/story/1519497/muharram-processions-culminate-peacefully/

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.

To ensure security for the mourners, authorities sealed shops along the route of the procession including those on MA Jinnah Road, on Saddar, Empress Market, Regal Chowk, Jama Cloth Market and Boulton Market following a scanning procedure conducted by the bomb disposal squad.

Various roads and streets opening up on to the procession route were also barricaded with containers and buses. Pillion riding was already banned for two days in the city while cellular services remained suspended to avoid any untoward incident.

https://i1.tribune.com.pk/story/1520731/processions-majalis-10th-muharram-conclude-peacefully-across-country/

According to the police security plan, some 44,000 police officials and personnel were deployed across the province. A total of 17,900 police officials and personnel were deployed in Karachi, including over 5,300 for the central procession. Police mobile vans with closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were found along the central procession, while aerial surveillance of the procession was also conducted.

Hyderabad

Thousands of people attended the procession in Hyderabad on Friday, which began in the afternoon from Qadam Gah at Haider Chowk.

According to a police spokesperson, 1,200 police personnel and 250 volunteers were deployed for the procession’s security. The roads and streets in the area were blocked, while the shops were sealed.

Around 20 CCTV cameras were installed to monitor the procession while snipers were stationed on 18 buildings along the route. The spokesperson said that the security was divided into two zones, four sectors, along with a special sector, and 12 pickets were set up.

https://i1.tribune.com.pk/story/1519630/twin-cities-lockdown-muharram-9-procession/

Assembly session postponed

The Sindh Assembly session, scheduled for Friday, was postponed due to chehlum processions. The session started with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in chair as Senior Parliamentary Minister Nisar Khuhro diverted her attention towards the chehlum processions and requested to adjourn the session. After fateha recitation, the deputy speaker adjourned the session and deferred all tasks till Monday.