Amid high security: Ninth Muharram ends peacefully in K-P

Suicide bomber was arrested in Kurram, terror bid foiled

HARIPUR/ KOHAT/ PESHAWAR/ PARACHINAR/ BANNU:

The ninth of Muharram remained a peaceful day amidst heightened security across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In Fata, a suicide bomber was spotted in Kurram Agency, but he was arrested by security officials who managed to foil a major terrorist attack on a procession in the agency.

Security officials said the suicide bomber along with his handler was arrested in an intelligence-based operation. They confessed to planning an attack on a Muharram procession in the tribal belt that has seen decades of sectarian violence. The suicide bomber revealed the location of his accomplices, following which security officials begun a search operation.

“Five [suspected] militants were arrested in the operation,” said a security official. “The names and identities of the militants will not be shared till the entire group is dismantled.” The operation continued till the filing of this report.

The security situation in Kurram is tense as the agency has more than 400 imambargahs. Cellular services were suspended in the agency and a partial curfew was imposed along the main road leading from Hangu and Kohat.

On the other hand, Bannu DPO Gul Afzal Afridi had ordered a 24-hour curfew starting 5pm on Thursday for all those who do not adhere to the Shia sect. This measure has been taken to avoid any mishap.

There was a partial shutdown of cellular networks throughout K-P and some parts of Fata.

Processions

The largest procession in Peshawar commenced from Hussainia Hall in Saddar. It was attended by more than 1,200 people. The procession started at 10am and ended at 4pm. A separate command post was established within the limits of the Cantonment area, said a police official.

Each procession was protected by at least 300 policemen, of which around 150 marched ahead of the procession while the rest followed. Over 7,000 policemen have been deployed across the district, which is aided by 16 platoons of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Quick Response Force of the Pakistan Army.

All roads leading to Khyber Bazaar, Kohati Gate, Ashraf Road, Namak Mandi, inner Yakatoot have been closed down with concrete blocks. The district administration has asked the residents to take alternative routes.

High risk

The list of sensitive areas included Haripur and Mansehra districts, but no untoward incident was reported from there.

Alam and Zuljinah procession started from Imambargah Imamia Sajjadia in Motian Mohallah, Haripur and ended at Imambargah Qadeemia in Muhalla Chowki police. Mourners from different localities joined the procession on the way to Imambargah Qadeemia. The mourners also performed zanjeer zani (self-flagellation) at Masjid Chowk. The route between the two points during the procession remained heavily cordoned off by the police personnel, elite force and FC.

While addressing participants of the procession, Shia scholar Dr Hasnain Raza Turabi condemned the massive violence caused by terrorism. He said anyone opposed to the ideology of violence and terrorism is in fact following Imam Hussain’s (RA) practices, irrespective of their sect.

As part of security measures, Haripur administration sealed the main bazaar and its link roads on Thursday evening. Walk-through gates were installed to screen participants. Hazara DIG and commissioner also visited and reviewed security arrangements.

In Mansehra, the procession of Alam proceeded along the traditional routes, from Imambargah Mehmooda in Mehmooda village. Scholar Syed Zawar Hussain Shah, in his address, emphasised the need for harmony amongst different sects, which he said was the essence of Karbala.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2015.