Dozens of processions were taken out on 9th Muharram from Hatian Bala and Neelum which culminated at the central imambargah Pir Almshah Bukhari of the city where religious scholars shed light on the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain.
Smaller processions were also taken out in Bagh, Mirpur, Neelum and other areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to pay homage to the martyrs of Karbala.
Cellular services remained closed in Muzaffarabad to protect the gatherings and processions and will remain so on Tuesday as well.
Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Masoodur Rehman said the security and protection of mourners was the top priority of the government and in this connection mobile phone services have been shut down in AJK’s capital for the two days.
The DC added that the main Ashura procession will remain under the cordon of police and nobody would be allowed to join it without proper checking and identification.
He further said that officials of Rescue-1122, bomb disposal squad, civil defence and fire-fighters would remain on alert.
Senior Superintendent of Police Irfan Masood Kashfi further informed that security has been beefed up at the main entry and exit points of Kohala and Bararkot while all passengers entering the limits of AJK are being checked.
Processions in Attock
The main procession of Muharram 9 was taken out from Sheen Bagh village in Attock amid tight security on Monday morning.
Mourners recited Nohas in groups and mourned the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS).
Stalls giving away water, juices, milk and various food items were set up by local organisers at different points of the procession while a special mobile medical team from DHQ Hospital and Rescue 1122 provided treatment to mourners.
The procession, after passing through its traditional routes, ended peacefully at Imambargah Hussainia Sheen Bagh.
Later, a majlis was held where the sacrifices of Hussain were recalled. As many as 96 processions and 684 majalis have so far been held peacefully across the district.
Fire brigades, civil defence and bomb disposal squad, along with all hospitals and Edhi centers have been put on high alert during Ashura.
Directives have also been issued to make all necessary arrangements in the emergency ward of hospitals and to ensure the presence of ambulance and medical staff along the routes of Ashura processions.
According to the chief security officer Muhammad Usman, the remaining 49 processions would be taken out along with 70 majalis on Tuesday.
The city’s main procession will be taken out from Imambargah Hussainia Kamalpur Syedan in Attock cantonment in the morning and will end at Karbala Haleem Shah in the evening.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2014.
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