Homage to martyrs: Unlike Ashura, Chehlum procession passes peacefully

Clash between police, ASWJ activists leaves 15 injured; six ‘troublemakers’ arrested.

RAWALPINDI:

Procession of the Chehlum of the martyrs of Karbala passed peacefully amid heightened security in Rawalpindi on Tuesday except a minor incident in which Ahle Sunnat wal-Jamaat (ASWJ) activists clashed with police at Peshawar Mor.

Over 100 activists of ASWJ with sticks and rods gathered at IJ Principal Road and tried to proceed towards Raja Bazaar where Chehlum procession was ongoing. However police after a clash managed to halt them.

When the protesters tried to force their way through the barricades, police used baton charge and teargas to disperse them. The protesters pelted stones at them. During the clash 15 protesters and some police officials received injuries. ASWJ’s local leader Mustafa Baloch claimed some of their activists sustained bullet wounds.

Meanwhile, the Sabzi Mandi police also arrested six protesters.

“We have arrested six troublemakers from Pirwadhai Mor and raids are being carried out to arrest others,” duty officer of Sabzi Mandi Police Station Muhammad Hameed told The Express Tribune, while denying firing at protesters. He said some of his colleagues had received minor injuries during the clashes.

Overall, the situation in the city remained peaceful and the main Chehlum procession that started from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain, Teli Mohalla, after passing through different routes reached Imambargah Hifazat Ali Shah where four other processions joined it.

The procession then passed through the traditional route that has Raja bazaar’s Madrassa Taleemul Quran on the way and peacefully culminated at Imambargah Qadeemi.

The mourners recited Nohas and carried alam and tazias to highlight the Karbala tragedy.

“We are here to protest the killing of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and his companions. The procession is an appropriate way to highlight Hussain’s struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression,” said Ghulam Abbas Shah who, along with his two children, had come from Sadiqabad to participate in the procession.

Due to security threats, no Sabeels were arranged enroute. However various organisations kept providing rice and water to the mourners along the way from mobile vans.

“Those attacking the mourners and Imambargahs cannot be Muslims. Islam doesn’t allow the killing of innocent people,” said Ali Hussain, a mourner who appreciated the district administration’s security arrangements.

While Mukhtar Force, Wahdat and Ibrahim scouts --- student and youth organizations --- frisked those taking part in the proceedings, a bomb disposal vehicle moved ahead of the procession and police sharp-shooters remained alert on rooftops of the surrounding buildings.

The area from Committee Chowk to Raja Bazaar had been fenced while streets and small roads were blocked by containers. Army choppers carried out aerial surveillance throughout the day and ground troops were put on high alert against any untoward situation.

Life remained normal in other parts of the garrison city though suspension of mobile service disturbed routine life.

Government-run and private educational institutes remained closed.

Military troops were also deployed in the area which had witnessed a violent clash between two rival sects during Ashura that had left over a dozen people dead.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2013.