Policemen stand guard as a Chehlum procession passes through Qissa Khwani Bazaar. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA) was observed in Peshawar with around 2,000 policemen, volunteers and paramilitary personnel, in addition to policemen in plain clothes on duty on Tuesday.
There were three mourning processions with approximately 1,500 mourners making their way from Mohallah Nobajuri, and imambargahs Alamdar Karbala and Shia Jamia Masjid. The processions started at around 1pm and merged at the historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar in the evening. Majalis were scheduled to take place at different imambargahs in the city after the processions.
While talking to The Express Tribune, a police official said the entire district had been put on high alert. He added that the chehlum was traditionally observed within the walled city and every police station had been asked to keep two sub-inspectors and 40 constables as reserve at the station in case of emergencies. In addition, officers from the Police Lines, including regular police, district reserve police, frontier reserve police and paramilitary forces were also told to be prepared.
The authorities had asked the business community to keep their shops shut and barricaded as a precautionary measure so vehicles could not enter the bazaar or other parts of the city.
Volunteers from the Imamia Students Organisation were also present at the procession, ready to provide medical aid and assistance to the mourners when needed.
In Hangu and Parachinar
Imam Hussain’s (RA) chehlum was observed peacefully in Hangu and Parachinar headquarters of Kurram Agency on Tuesday. In Hangu, hundreds of Shias took part in the procession in Pass Kallay. The procession started from Alamdar Imambargah and went through different routes. Security was tightened in the entire district with extra contingents of police and paramilitary troops deployed at check posts and the mosque.
In Parachinar, the procession was carried out amid strict security and main routes were blocked by security forces. The main procession went from the imambargah in Parachinar city and passed through Tori Qabristan and Kurram Militia Centre.
Security forces closed the Pak-Afghan border in Parachinar while heavy contingents of security forces were on duty at sensitive areas. Civil defence and peace committee members could be seen patrolling the imambargah.
Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah devised a security plan where aerial surveillance was conducted in three sensitive districts, namely Kohat, Hangu and DI Khan, through gunship helicopters to maintain peace, while cellular services remained suspended.
He added that 500 policemen provided security to small processions, 1,250 policemen to medium-sized processions and 1,500 policemen were there to take care of larger processions.
Bannu
District government officials in Bannu imposed a curfew from 6am to 5pm. Extra contingents of police and security forces were deployed in the city to patrol sensitive areas and checkpoints.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2013.
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