Of martyrdom and mourning

Muharram 9 procession carried out amid tight security, despite flooding in city

KARACHI:

It was a wave of black moving in unison. They were one in their grief and mourning, evident in the heart-rending marsias and nohas (elegies mourning the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA)) echoing through the air.

Scores had turned out on Saturday to participate in the Muharram 9 processions across Karachi, despite the devastation in the city caused by the week's rains.

The participants of the main procession gathered at Nishtar Park, where Maulana Syed Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi addressed them during Majlis-e-Aza, recalling the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

The end of the address saw them leaving for Hussainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar, their destination, where the procession was to culminate. The journey took them through Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Road, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, Bolton Market, Bombay Bazaar and Nawab Mahabat Khanji Road, with a transient stop at on MA Jinnah Road for prayers.

Covering the extensive distance on foot, the procession peacefully culminated at Hussainia Iranian Imambargah.

In a statement issued in this regard, Religious Affairs Minister Dr Noor ul Haq Qadri said the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) at Karbala was an example for everyone to learn how to stand firmly against tyranny and injustice.

Ashura processions are carried out every year on Muharram 9 and 10 in remembrance of the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) at Karbala.

Security measures

This year, like previous times, the procession was carried out amid tight security to prevent the occurrence of any untoward incident.

Over 20,000 law enforcement personnel were deployed across the city on the day, of them 6,368 designated to stand guard and monitor only the main procession. Moreover, police commandos and 90 snipers of the police's Special Security Unit were deployed on the rooftops of high-rises to overlooking the mourners' path. Additionally, nearly 5,000 scouts, rescue workers and district administration officials facilitated the mourners as they made their way to Hussainia Iranian Imambargah.

Law enforcers and others deployed along the route were instructed to ensure that all individuals were checked and passed via walk-through gates before being allowed to join the main procession.

At junctions, it was also visited by senior police and Rangers officials who reviewed security arrangements.

Besides, the procession was surveilled via 1,200 CCTV cameras mounted along its designated route and connected to a control room at the Civic Centre.

Meanwhile, shops falling in the way and close vicinity of its routes remained closed and the route itself was cordoned off by the placement of containers - which only two days previously had found themselves afloat in the rainwater.

The Sindh government has placed a ban on pillion riding from Muharram 8 to Muharram 10 (today), as a security measure. In addition to this, restriction has been imposed on carrying arms and ammunition and the assembly of five or more persons- with the exception of Muharram processions- in the province.

In addition to this, cellular services were selectively suspended, and the suspension will extend to Muharram 10.

This was confirmed by Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab in a tweet, clarifying that the services would remain suspended "only in selected areas, where processions would be carried out on Muharram 9 and 10."

Like the suspension of cellular services, other security arrangements and restrictions, too, will continue till tonight (Sunday night).

Contingency measures

The health department and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had declared an emergency in all of Karachi's public hospitals, issuing instructions for the hospitals' managements to ensure the availability of doctors, paramedics and medicines during Ashura.

In line with this, Karachi health director has also declared an emergency in 18 town health offices of the city until Muharram 12 (Tuesday) and has ordered the establishment of medical camps.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2020.