Chehlum procession in Pindi culminates peacefully

City administration, police put in place elaborate security arrangements to secure route

RAWALPINDI:

Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) was observed on Wednesday amid tight security arrangements while over 1,800 cops were deployed to guard the Chehlum procession of Chor Chowk.

According to Rawalpindi police spokesperson, Rawalpindi district police had finalised all necessary arrangements to facilitate the mourners. He said that police on the directives of City Police Officer (CPO) Muhammad Ahsan Younas had finalised elaborate security arrangements for security of Chor Chowk Chehlum procession and avoid any untoward incident.

The route of the procession of ‘Chehlum’ was sealed completely and streets on the route were barricaded. Vehicles and motorcycles were not allowed to move with the mourning procession. Foolproof security arrangements were ensured utilizing all available resources, he added.

Over 170 City Traffic Police (CTP) personnel, including five DSPs, 12 Inspectors, 114 traffic wardens and 39 traffic assistants, were also deployed to ease traffic flow in Chor Chowk area during Chehlum procession.

Read Chehlum procession culminates peacefully

According to a CTP spokesperson, City Traffic Police (CTP) on the directives of Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi Rai Mazhar Iqbal had finalised all the arrangements to regulate traffic and facilitate the road users in Chor Chowk area. He informed that a comprehensive traffic plan was devised to ensure security and facilitate the mourners and the road users.

Chairing Cross to Pirwadhai Mor Road remained closed from morning to conclusion of the Chehlum procession. Diversion points were set up in the circle to ensure security and facilitate the motorists. Taxila, Wah bound traffic was allowed to move through Westridge Road, Attaul Haq Road, Najam Shaheed Road, Westridge-III Road, APS School, Marble Factory and IJP road while the traffic coming from Wah, Taxila towards Saddar was allowed to use Pirwadhai Road, IJP Road, Carriage Factory Road, Gunjmandi Mor, Bakri Chowk, Romi Road, Transit Camp and Akramul Haq Road. The road from Chor Chowk to Range Road also remained closed during procession. Similarly, Hali Road from Chor Chowk to Najam Shaheed Chowk was also closed for all kinds of vehicular traffic.

Traffic of Marble Factory Road to Chor Chowk was provided an alternative route from Tanki Chowk towards Westridge Mor, he said and informed that traffic police placed diversions to facilitate the procession.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2021.