Ashura arrangements: 288 processions to be taken out in Bahawalpur division

Punjab Emergency Service issues route plans for traditional processions.

BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab Emergency Service (Resuce) on Friday issued the plans for the traditional routes of the processions to be taken out in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

In Bahawalpur, the main procession will be taken out from the Shiite Mosque near Shah Fateh School. It will walk through the Zanana Hospital Road, Phoolonwala Chowk, Mohallah Kajalpura, Kauser Colony and pause at Shahdara Chowk where it will be joined by more processions before marching to Ghalla Mandi, Fateh Chowk, Tanki Chowk and Fish Market and end at the Shiite Mosque.

On 10th of Muharram, the main procession will start from the Shiite Mosque and walk through Zanana Hospital Road, Fish Market, Tayyaba College Road, Crafts Bazaar and end at Karbala near Model Town’s Block-C.

Regional Police Officer Rao Sardar Ali said that 288 mourning processions will be taken out in the division on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

He said that 224 mourning sessions will be organised across the division on the two days. He said 10,772 policemen will be deployed for security along with six Rangers companies.

The RPO expressed his satisfaction with security arrangements. He said that 106 places in the division had been declared sensitive.

He said those joining the procession and the mourning sessions will be frisked and checked with metal detectors. He said the security officials had been provided with 570 metal detectors.

He said CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates had been installed at the entrances of the Imambargahs and along procession routes.

“We have prohibited 135 clerics from attending any of the processions or the sessions. Another 66 have been prohibited from addressing the gatherings,” he said.

He also requested the people to be patient and peaceful.

Malik Asif Rahim Channar, the divisional emergency officer for Bahawalpur division, told The Express Tribune that rescue officials had been deployed at a joint control room at the district police office.

He said control points had been established at important chowks to help the district administration manage traffic. Rescue workers at these points, he said, would provide first aid where required.

He said that special rescue teams had been formed and given emergency kits. These teams would accompany the processions and be ready to deal with any untoward incident. In Faisalabad, 82 processions will be taken out and 119 mourning sessions will be held on the

9th of Muharram, Inspector Aamir Waheed, PRO to the city police officer, told The Tribune.

Two mourning processions will be taken out from Kotwali, one from Gulberg, three from Ghulam Muhammadabad, one from Razaabad, three from People’s Colony, one from Madina Town, one from Sargodha Road, one from Mansoorabad, three from Nishatabad, three from Millat Town, three from Chak Jhumra, three from Batala Colony, one from D-Type Colony, four from Factory Area, two from Samanabad, four from Dijkot, six from Saddar, four from Thikriwala, two from Sandal Bar, four from Jaranwala City, three from Jaranwala Saddar, two from Satiana, three from Rodala Road, three from Lundianwala, two from Khurarianwala, two from Balochni, two from Samundri City, one from Samundri Saddar, two from Mureedwala, three from Tandlianwala City, one from Tandlianwala Saddar, two from Bahlak and one from Garh area.

Inspector Waheed said that 4,137 policemen will provide security to the processions and the mourning sessions during the two days.

WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHAMSUL ISLAM FROM FAISALABAD

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2012.