Muharram 9 processions held under strict vigilance

Over 5,000 police officials deployed for central procession, 263 small processions

HYDERABAD/ KARACHI: The main Muharram 9 procession organised each year in remembrance of Karbala concluded peacefully on Monday. The central procession headed off from Nishtar Park at 11 am and culminated at Hussainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar. The procession, led by Allama Safdar Zaidi and Sarwar Zaidi, marched through Guru Mandar on New MA Jinnah Road, crossed Peoples Roundabout, Saddar Dawakhana, Empress Market, Regal Chowk, Tibet Centre and then made its way from Plastic Market to Hussainian Iranian Imambargah. A Majlis was held at Nishtar Park and participants offered Zuhrain prayers opposite the Quaid's Mazaar before the procession began.

Security arrangements

All high rise buildings along the route of the central procession had cops and snipers deployed on the rooftops to avert any untoward incident. The Sindh government had already enforced a ban on pillion riding from Muharram 8 to 10. Law enforcement agencies were put on high alert and large contingents of police and Rangers were deployed along the procession route.

According to police, around 623 different Majalis had also been organised in various areas of the city. There were 5,064 security personnel deployed for this purpose and another 1,927 police officials at various sensitive locations.

The route of the central procession was sealed by the relevant authorities on Saturday night. Some 263 small processions were also taken out on Monday.

Apart from aerial surveillance monitoring the procession, sniffer dogs were used to check for explosive materials and CCTV cameras were also monitored throughout the procession route.

Besides, medical camps had been set-up to cater to any accidents or injuries during the procession.

While cellular were suspended in certain areas and the routes taken by the mourners were blocked for traffic, twenty roads around the procession's route could be used for traffic movement and cellular services were restored in the evening.

In Hyderabad

Amid tight security, 201 mourning processions and 72 Majalis of sham-e-ghareeban are being organised in Hyderabad on Muharram 10 (today) to mourn the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions.

The central procession will start from Qadam Gah Moula Ali (RA) near Haider Chowk. It will conclude after walking a distance of over one kilometre at Karbala Dadan Shah near the police lines.

Molana Allah Bachayo Nasri will address a Majlis before the start of the procession at Qadam Gah Moula Ali (RA) in the morning while Molana Syed Waseem Haider Zaidi will address another Majlis en route around 2 pm at Iqra Chowk. Allama Syed Shaharyar Naqvi will address Sham-e-Ghareeban at Qadam Gah Moula Ali (RA) after Maghrib Namaz.

The police spokesman said that around 55 roads and streets intersecting the procession's route will be sealed with barbed wires besides deployment of the police. He informed that more than 3,000 policemen including the personnel of Anti Terrorism Force (ATF) will be deployed for the security duty in addition to the Rangers and the volunteers. A unit of Pakistan army will remain at standby.

As many as 700 personnel including the top police officials will cover the central procession while 1,500 personnel will be deployed at the other 200 big and small processions. The spokesman told that seven walk through gates are being placed at the only entrance to the central procession at Qadam Gah Moula Ali (RA) while all the people entering from the place would also be checked with the metal detectors.

The exit point of the procession will be at Dadan Shah near the police lines. The central procession will also be monitored through the CCTV cameras for which a control room has been set up at the office of DSP City police station.

According to the spokesman, another 650 policemen will be deployed at the Majalis of Sham-e-Ghareeban in different parts of the city. The mobile phone services will remain suspended for third consecutive day on Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2019.