Muharram updates: Pakistan on red alert ahead of processions
Mobile phone services restored in certain parts of Karachi
LAHORE/KARACHI:
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar placed the entire country on red alert Monday for the mourning processions of Ashura, a flashpoint for sectarian violence, a day after the country's deadliest bombing in more than a year killed 57 people.
A suicide bomber struck at the main Pakistan-India border crossing on Sunday, causing carnage among crowds leaving the colourful daily ceremony to close the Wagah frontier post, near Lahore.
At least two different factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the attack -- the first major strike since the army launched an offensive against militant strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency in June.
Later on Monday, a low-key flag lowering ceremony was held at the border with a surprisingly large crowd at the border despite the fatal attack.
7:44pm
Security in Quetta remained on high alert on Monday for mourning processions of Ashura.
Heavy contingents of Frontier Corps, police, Balochistan Constabulary, Anti-Terrorism Force and Balochistan Levies were deployed in the city.
Read here for the full story.
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7:13pm
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7:09pm
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain censured the government on Monday for lacking the intelligence resources and capacity to deal with the deteriorating law and order situation.
Read here for the full story.
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6:39pm
Mobile phone services have been restored in certain parts of Karachi, Express News reports.
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6:22pm
DIG South Abdul Khaliq Shaikh has said there is a possibility of suicide attack on the Muharram procession in Karachi, Express News reports.
“16,000 police and 5,000 Rangers personnel have been deployed for security in the city.”
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar placed the entire country on red alert Monday for the mourning processions of Ashura, a flashpoint for sectarian violence, a day after the country's deadliest bombing in more than a year killed 57 people.
A suicide bomber struck at the main Pakistan-India border crossing on Sunday, causing carnage among crowds leaving the colourful daily ceremony to close the Wagah frontier post, near Lahore.
At least two different factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the attack -- the first major strike since the army launched an offensive against militant strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency in June.
Later on Monday, a low-key flag lowering ceremony was held at the border with a surprisingly large crowd at the border despite the fatal attack.
7:44pm
Security in Quetta remained on high alert on Monday for mourning processions of Ashura.
Heavy contingents of Frontier Corps, police, Balochistan Constabulary, Anti-Terrorism Force and Balochistan Levies were deployed in the city.
Read here for the full story.
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7:13pm
A little girls rests on the shoulders of her father during 9 Muharram-ul-Haram procession in G-6 on Monday. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
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7:09pm
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain censured the government on Monday for lacking the intelligence resources and capacity to deal with the deteriorating law and order situation.
Read here for the full story.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6:39pm
Mobile phone services have been restored in certain parts of Karachi, Express News reports.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6:22pm
DIG South Abdul Khaliq Shaikh has said there is a possibility of suicide attack on the Muharram procession in Karachi, Express News reports.
“16,000 police and 5,000 Rangers personnel have been deployed for security in the city.”
Procession underway on Pandu Street, Lahore. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS