Security high for Ashura procession today

Marksmen positioned atop high-rise buildings along procession routes

KARACHI:

The main procession of the Ashura, Muharram 10, will emerge from Nishtar Park on Wednesday (today) and after passing through its traditional routes conclude at Husainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.

Shehanshah Hussain Naqvi will address the majlis at Nishtar park after which the procession will start with the Butrab Scouts in the lead.

The mourning procession would have the effigies of the coffins of the martyrs of Karbala, the horses decorated like Zuljinah, the horse of Hazrat Imam Husain, and cradles of babies slain in the event.

Per tradition, the matam associations will perform self-flagellation with chains and knives and beat their chest. Sabeels of water and milk have been placed in the main procession routes while food distribution and niaz and tabaruk will also be distributed.

The Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) will hold the Zohrain prayer.

Security

More than 200 commandos from the Security Services Unit (SSU) have been deployed at different location in the metropolitan for the security of mourners during the holy month of Muharram.

According to a spokesperson from the DIG Security and Emergency Services Division, SSU commandos, including females, have been strategically deployed at various locations, including mourning processions, Imambargahs, congregational sites, sensitive areas, and procession routes. This deployment aims to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.

Expert marksmen are positioned atop high-rise buildings along the procession routes to provide additional security cover. The SSU headquarters is monitoring the processions through CCTV cameras. Moreover, a specialised command and control unit equipped with modern surveillance technology is closely monitoring the events.

MQM-P sets up amenities

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) Senior Leader Dr Farooq Sattar on Tuesday attended the Muharram procession which started from Imambargah Shah-e-Najaf.

The party has continued its tradition of arranging drinking water and Sabeels at various procession sites on Muharram 9.

Dr Farooq was accompanied by MPA Amir Siddiqui and other officials.

Speaking on the occasion, he emphasised the teachings of Imam Hussain, highlighting lessons of patience, steadfastness, and the distinction between right and wrong as taught by the events of Karbala.

He praised Imam Hussain’s refusal to yield to oppression, stressing the importance of resisting falsehood regardless of its power. MQM-P representatives, including MNA Iqbal Khan Mehsud and MPA Arsalan Parvez, participated in a majlis at ImamBargah in New Rizvia. Similarly, MNA Iftikhar Alam and MPA Adil Askari joined a procession from Askari Imambargah to IRC Imambargah.