Muharram security: 5 suspects arrested from near Imambargah

7th of Muharram processions taken out in all cities.

JHANG/ RAHIM YAR KHAN/ MULTAN/ SARGODHA:

Five terrorism suspects were arrested from Sargodha on Thursday, while mourning processions associated with Muharram 7 were taken out across the province amid tight security.

Sargodha city police arrested five terrorism suspects near the Block-19 Imambargah.

Police said they had mounted a search operation at the rented rooms in the area. They said five men, belonging to the Khyber Agency, were arrested. However, they said, no weapons or any other evidence was recovered from them which could establish the suspicion.

Police said these men had rented a room 10 days ago. They said the men will remain in police custody while the police ran a background check on them.

The biggest mourning procession in Sargodha was taken out after a mourning session at Khaima Sadaat Chungi at 8am. Some 200 people participated in the procession that ended at Imambargah Qasrul Qaim in Satellite Town.

Many if the mourners in the procession also performed self flagellation on the way to the Imambargah. In Jhang, the main procession was taken out from Imambargah Mohajireen. The alam and zuljinah processions passed through Shah Kabir, Ganda Nala Chowk, Shireen Chowk and Bab-i-Umar and ended at Imambargah Qadimi after several hours.

Heavy security was deployed along the route of the procession. The district police and district coordination officer had also directed the officers concerned to ensure presence of security on roofs along the procession route.



The route was cleared from all types of traffic and encroachment from the morning. Shops at Gulgasht Market which in on the way remained closed for the day.

In Vehari, the mourning procession marched its traditional routes ending at Karbala Hussania. Another procession was taken out from Haroonabad. It, too, terminated at Karbala Hussania.  The processions were followed by mourning sessions.

In Bahawalpur, the zuljina and alam processions were taken out from Astana Roshan Ali in Mohalla Aam-o-Khaas. Passing through the Grain Market, the Fish Market and the Chowk Bazaar, it ended at Astana Muhammad Ali Shah in Mohalla Fateh Khan.

Free food and water was given out to the mourners along the route. People from Ahmadpur East, Bahawalnagar and other areas of the Bahawalpur division participated in the procession.

The mourning procession in Bahawalpur is said to be 250-years-old.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2012.