The 9th day of Ashura was observed peacefully across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Friday. The main procession of ‘Alm and Zuljinnah’ of the 9th Muharram was taken out from the Imambargah Hussainia Hall in Saddar, Peshawar, in a peaceful manner, thanks to strict security arrangements made by law enforcement agencies.
To ensure safety during the last three days of Ashura, the police, backed by the Frontier Constabulary (FC), sealed off the old walled city of Peshawar along with Peshawar Saddar. Traders were directed to close their businesses during this period to maintain security.
Mourners participated in the procession, following specified routes such as Saddar Road, Kalabari, and Fawwara Chowk, and offered Zohar prayers near Fawara Chowk. The procession concluded at Hussainia Hall in Cantonment in the afternoon. Throughout the route, Water Sabeel (water distribution points) were arranged for the participants.
Religious scholars addressed the mourners before the procession, delivering special sermons on the significance of the 9th Ashura and the unparalleled sacrifice made by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala for the supremacy of Islam. They emphasized that Hazrat Imam Hussain’s message, teachings, and principles continue to serve as a beacon of light for mankind.
In preparation for any emergencies, a first aid camp was established by the Imamia Students Federation, and Rescue 1122 provided ambulances to transport any injured individuals to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) for further treatment.
Similar processions were held in the old walled city of Peshawar in the evening, as well as in other parts of the province, including Kohat, Kurram, Bannu, Karak, DI Khan, Tank, Mardan, and Nowshera. Adequate security arrangements were made to ensure a smooth and safe observance of the religious event.
Ahead of Muharram, the K-P home and tribal affairs department declared 4,500 places of worship in 11 districts of the province as most sensitive. These districts include Peshawar, Kohat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Kurram, Orakzai, and Tank.
In response to the shared information from police and security forces, the home department deployed police and Frontier Corps to provide security during the holy month of Muharram at sensitive and most sensitive places of worship.
Police have been strictly instructed to manage security measures to maintain peace and order in the province. District police have been directed to develop their security plans for Muharram based on specific requirements.
Lists of the most sensitive places of worship were sent to the respective district administrations to ensure necessary security measures are taken. In the provincial capital, several locations, including the old city and various Imambarghas on GT Road, Hayatabad, and Peshawar Cantt, were declared as sensitive and most sensitive.
The police have been tasked with sealing the routes of the mourning processions in all these districts to avoid any untoward incidents. Furthermore, police established a main control room in the Kohat Gate area of the city to closely monitor the mourning processions, with another sub-control room established in Saddar. Live camera monitoring, special lighting, and generators have been arranged along the designated procession routes after consultation with the Shia community.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2023.
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