All set for Ashura observance tomorrow

Muharram 7 procession concludes peacefully in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI:

The traditional Muharram 7 procession which commenced on Wednesday after Maghrib prayers from Nishtar Street in Sadiqabad, culminated peacefully at Imambargh Qadeemi early on Thursday morning. Foolproof security arrangements were finalised for the procession.

Sources said the main procession of 7th Muharram, after passing through traditional routes concluded at Qadeemi Imambargah. More than 2,500 security personnel and 210 traffic wardens were deployed to ensure security. City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani, Senior Superintendent of Police, Operations, and senior officers remained present in the field to check arrangements and brief the cops about security.

Walk-through gates were installed at the entry points of the procession, the CPO said. The participants were allowed to join the procession after a thorough body search.

Syed Khalid Hamdani said that cops were also deployed on the rooftops to ensure the security of the procession. Police were utilising all available resources to ensure foolproof security arrangements during Muharram, the CPO added. According to a CTP spokesperson, CTP had chalked out a traffic plan for the 7th Muharram procession and 210 personnel including three DSPs, 10 inspectors, 196 traffic wardens, and traffic assistants performed duties to ensure smooth traffic flow during the procession.

The route of the main procession was sealed completely. It passed through Transformer Chowk, Kuri Road, Chah Sultan, Glass Factory Chowk, Zafarul Haq Road, Leprosy Hospital, Murree Road, Committee Chowk, and Iqbal Road and reached Naya Mohallah where other small processions joined it. The procession then passed through Naya Mohallah Chowk to Fawara Chowk, Dingi Khoi, Bansanwala Chowk, Jamia Masjid Road and culminated at Qadimi Imambargah.

During the diversions, alternative routes were provided to motorists. Parking of any type of vehicle was banned on the routes of the mourning procession. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Taimoor Khan said in order to facilitate citizens, information about the alternative routes was also shared on the official pages of social media and radio stations (88.6) of the traffic police.

On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has completed all the arrangements for 9th and 10th of Muharram.

According to an RCB spokesperson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) RCB, Imran Gulzar visited different Imambargahs including Qasr-e-Shabbir, Dhoke Syedan, Imambargah Shah Pyara, Chor Chowk, Imambargah Qasr-e-Abbas, Allama Iqbal Colony, Imambargah Raja Akram Road near Qasim Market and Imambargah Allied Bank Street, Chor Chowk and reviewed all the arrangements including security.

The spokesperson informed that the board has completed cleanliness work on the route of the main processions and repaired all faulty street lights. Moreover, leaves of the board staff have been canceled, he said adding that Cantonment General Hospital would remain open round the clock to provide medical assistance to the mourners.

He informed that the CEO had also met with the delegation of Anjuman-e-Ghulaman Abu Talib, Jamia Mosque and Central Imam Bargah. In the delegation, Raja Mohsin Shah from Anjuman Ittihad ul Momanin, Mehmood Jafri from Anjuman Ghulaman Abu Talib, Qasim Ali Shah Kazmi from Darbar Shah Pyara, and Mujtaba Shah from Imam Bargah Gwalmandi were included.

The RCB officials would also be along with the processions so that the mourners do not have to face any kind of trouble, he added.

On the directives of the CEO, the board has extended the water supply time in the areas of the Imambargahs and procession routes.

With additional input from APP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2023.