Processions were carried out in various cities as thousands of security personnel protect the mourners.
Multan
In Multan ,the main Ashura procession was taken out from "Aastana Lal Shah" Khani Burj with Taazias of "Ustad & Shagird".While 182 smaller procession were taken out in the city which joined the main procession. as many as 4521 police personnels and army was deployed in the city for the security of mourners.A control room was established to keep vigilant eyes on the miscreants and to avert any untoward incident.The martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions was peacefully commemorated as Youm-e-Ashura, the 10th day of the first Islamic month of Muharram, was observed amid heightened security measures in different districts of South Punjab.
Tens of thousands of people thronged the streets in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Khanewal, Jhang, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur,Lsayyah, Bhakkar,Bahawalnagar, Rahimyar Khan, Sadiqabad, Jampur, Kotadu, Alipur and other districts while hundreds of small processions were taken out in connection with Ashura.
Strict security arrangements were taken by district administrations while thousands of police, scouts and volunteers performed security duty which included aerial surveillance by helicopters.Zuljinah, the imitation of the horse of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), also accompanied various processions and so did several craftily made tazias and alams. Mourners beat their chests and hurt their bare backs with razor sharp knives attached with chains as they expressed grief over the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions.
In addition, ‘Sabeels’ of drinks and eatables were present throughout the route of the processions. All entry points were sealed and every participant was searched, identified before being allowed to enter the processions.
The routes of the processions were cleared and three layered security was provided to the participants. Police personnel were deployed on rooftops of the buildings to keep any eye on any suspicious activity.
The district administrations banned pillion riding and no one was allowed to carry arms. Rescue 1122 officials, ambulances, civil defence and members of district peace committees accompanied the processions.Emergency was also declared in tehsil and district hospitals to counter any untoward incident. All Ashura processions concluded peacefully and no unpleasant incident was reported from any district.
Karachi
In Karachi, the main Ashura procession started at Nishtar Park and will conclude at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar. According to the latest update from the IGP Operations Room at the Central Police Office (CPO), the head of the procession is currently at Regal Chowk.
Accompanied by Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reached New Preedy Street Lines Area where he led the procession.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail is also expected to join the procession at Radio Pakistan office at 3pm.
The provincial police chief, Dr Syed Kaleem Imam, reviewed police deployments and security arrangements on various routes.
Ahead of Ashura, police and Rangers claimed to have taken all-out measures to ensure security for the main procession to be taken out in the city.
"Foolproof security measures have been made for the main procession of 10th Muharram on Tuesday (today). The procession would start early at around 7:30am and culminate in Kharadar at around 4pm," DIG-East Amir Farooqi had said.
He had said that 7,000 policemen and 3,000 Rangers personnel would be deployed for the security of the procession in the city. Aerial surveillance — through drone cameras — of the main procession would also be carried out.
Officials said that mobile phone service would also be suspended at particular places in the city and other parts of the province on the request of DIGs/commissioners concerned. A ban on pillion-riding is also in place in the metropolis.
Lahore
In Lahore, the main procession started at Nisar Haveli at midnight and after passing through Mochi Gate, Mori Gate, Wazir Khan Mosque, Paniwala Talaab areas, Namaz-i-Zuhrain will be offered at Rung Mehal.
The procession will culminate at Karbala Gamay Shah.
Over 8,000 police officials have been deployed in the city. At least 14 superintendents of police, 24 deputy superintendents of police and 87 inspectors have also been deployed. The special security unit of Lahore police, the Anti-Riot Force, the Dolphin Squad and the Police Response Unit are also on duty.
Additionally, barbed wires and barriers have been placed on roads leading to the main procession. Snipers have been positioned on roofs of buildings on the procession route. Attendees of the procession are allowed entry following security checks.
Mobile services have also been suspended in areas where the procession is passing through.
Quetta
The procession in Quetta has reached the Bacha Khan Chowk area where Namaz-i-Zuhrain is being offered. Amid tight security, the procession started from Alamdar Road and will pass through the traditional routes culminating in the Alamdar Road area of Marriabad.
Tight security arrangements have been made across Balochistan to observe Ashura with over 5,500 policemen deployed to maintain order. Frontier Corps personnel have also been positioned at sensitive locations and at check posts to avoid any untoward incident.
Dozens of small processions were taken out in the city and they all gathered at Alamdar Road.
Earlier, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove visited the central police office where a control room has been set up to monitor all processions which would join the main Ashura procession at Panjabi Imambargah.
Rawalpindi
According to Radio Pakistan, the main procession in Rawalpindi emerged from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain and will culminate at Imambargah Qadeemi in the Bani area.
The procession routes are dotted with sabeel stalls which are providing water, milk and tea to mourners.
Tight security arrangements have been made with walk-through gates and CCTV cameras installed in order to check the entry and exit of people. Metro bus services have also been suspended in the city.
Peshawar
In Peshawar, the Ashura procession was taken out from Imambargah Agha Syed Ali Shah Rizvi and will conclude at the starting point after passing through the traditional routes, Radio Pakistan reported.
Mobile phone services have been suspended in the city as part of security measures.
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