Foolproof arrangements: Ashura passes peacefully amid tight security

Around 10,000 personnel were deployed and 450 CCTV cameras installed

RAWALPINDI: Ashura was observed amid tight security in Rawalpindi on Saturday, with mourning processions culminating at their designated points peacefully.

Processions taken out from different localities gathered at the Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain around noon on Saturday, and after passing through their traditional routes, culminated at the Qadeemi Imambargah where mourners attended the “Shaam-e-Gharibaan” majlis.

Thousands of mourners remembered the sacrifice and paid tribute to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala.

The district administration had made strict security arrangements to maintain peace, with the deployment of around 10,000 police, military and paramilitary personnel along the procession routes and various other points in the city.



The administration had also barred residents from standing on rooftops along the procession route. CCTV cameras and walk-through gates were also installed and aerial surveillance of mourning processions was made to ensure foolproof security. Pillion riding had also been banned in the district.

Regional Police Officer Fakhar Sultan Raja also visited various points along the routes to review security arrangements. Talking to a group of journalists, he expressed satisfaction at the security arrangements.

The City Traffic Police had also prepared a traffic plan, diverting all vehicular traffic from procession routes to alternative roads. The police had also banned parking of vehicles, motorcycles, cycles, or pushcarts along the procession route. The Metro Bus service also remained shut on the day and was opened on Sunday.

Over 6,000 policemen in uniform and civvies were deployed to protect the main Ashura procession. Ten companies of Rangers were also deployed in the city, while 16 companies of Pakistan Army were on standby.

A total of 450 CCTV cameras were installed along the procession route and air surveillance was also carried out through helicopters.

As many as 1,766 majalis were organised in different localities of Rawalpindi on Ashura while 316 big and small processions were taken out from different parts of the city that merged with the main procession. Water, milk and food were distributed among participants at various points.

Meanwhile, over 400 rescuers were on duty in Rawalpindi during Ashura, along with rescue scouts. Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi had deployed 14 ambulances, two emergency ambulances of Pakistan Red Crescent, 10 fire vehicles and three rescue vehicles, informed a spokesperson.

Moreover, ambulances with trained staff were moving along the procession.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2015.