Youm-e-Ashur, the tenth of Muharram, is being observed on Tuesday across the country with due solemnity to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his devoted companions in Karbala.
Muharram is the month of mourning for the seventh-century martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Mourning processions will be taken out across the country amid strict security arrangements.
Ulema and Zahireen will highlight the teachings of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and various aspects of the Karbala tragedy during the processions.
The main procession in Karachi will be taken out from Nishtar Park after majalis in the morning which will conclude after passing through the traditional routes at Imam Bargah-e-Hussainan Iranian.
In Karachi and other major cities of SIndh, more than 55,000 security personnel have been deployed for the security of the mourning processions. Moreover, mobile phone and internet services will remain suspended under the security plan. The main procession will also be monitored by CCTV. Pillion riding has also been banned.
Pakistan Rangers Sindh, Police and other law enforcement agencies personnel have been deployed on the routes to provide security, while the roads and streets around the procession route have been sealed.
In Punjab, mourning processions will be taken out in all cities and towns.
In Lahore, the main Shabih-e-Zuljinah procession of 10th Muharram will be taken out from Nisar Haveli inside Mochi Gate of the Old Walled City and will culminate at Karbala Gaamay Shah during the evening hours, where Shaam-e-Ghareeban will be held.
Under the comprehensive security plan, 'foolproof security measures' have been taken throughout the province.
More than 900 CCTV cameras have been installed along routes of the main processions and other sensitive areas to keep a strict check on all activity.
The main procession in Rawalpindi will be taken out from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain. Rawalpindi police along with other law enforcement agencies have made strict security arrangements, with around 6,000 police personnel will be deployed to guard the central procession.
Mobile phone and Internet service have been suspended while barbed wire and containers are placed on roads to seal the main procession routes.
Speaking to the media, Rawalpindi CPO Shahzad Bukhari said all processions in the city are "sensitive" and the main procession is being guarded by around 6,000 law enforcement personnel.
Pakistan Army’s 111-brigade will remain on high alert and on standby while Punjab Rangers will act as a backup for police personnel deployed on the procession route. There will be a complete ban on pillion riding in areas near the processions.
Multan
As many as 117 Muharram processions were taken out in Multan city which is called Lucknow of Pakistan and 150 Majalis were held in the district on the Ashura (today). Talib Hussain Parwaz, a spokesman of Azadari organisation told that administration made fool proof security measures to avert any eventuality. More than 8000 Police personnels and other law enforcing agencies were deployed in the area. The mobile networks were switched off in the select sensitive areas till evening. The administration had adopted strict measures to avoid any untoward incident. The law enforcing agencies were put on high alert to deal with any eventuality. The CPO personally monitored all security arrangements in the district on the ninth and tenth of Muharram.
Peshawar
In Peshawar, the day's first procession commenced at Imambargah Agha Najaf Ali Shah while cellular phone services remain suspended.
Altogether, 12 processions are to be taken out in the city, the Dawn.com correspondent in Peshawar said.
Tight security arrangements have been made for Ashura in the city, with around 11,000 police personnel deployed to guard mourning processions, same as on Muharram 9, he said.
Quetta
The main procession in Quetta commenced at Imambargah Hussainiya Syedabad on Alamdar Road, and will pass through Toghi Road, Liaquat Bazaar and Prince Road to return to Alamdar Road, where it will culminate around 8pm, according to a statement issued by the Balochistan Shia Conference.
During the course, Shia scholars would deliver speeches at Bacha Khan Chowk, where Zuhr prayers would be offered, the statement said.
According to Quetta DIG Fida Hussain, strict security measures have been implemented on the route of the procession, along which 5,000 police personnel have been deployed. Frontier Corps personnel and those from other law enforcement agencies have also been deployed to guard the procession, he said in a statement.
The DIG said CCTV cameras would be employed for air surveillance, adding commercial centres along the procession's routes were sealed and road had been blocked for traffic.
Mobile phone services in the city would remain suspended from 6am to 8pm, he said, adding that three battalions of the Pakistan Army were on standby.
Earlier, a Dawn report quoted him as saying that 24 imambargahs had been declared highly sensitive in the city while 23 sensitive.
Majalis were being held in 57 imambargahs while women’s majalis were going on in 20 takiya khanas, he said, adding that 21 permanent gates and 49 gates had been set up for meetings across Quetta and patrolling of security forces increased in and around the city.
Islamabad
The main procession in Islamabad was taken out from Islamabad Qasr-i-Zainabia, a tweet by Islamabad police said.Earlier, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said mobile phone services would remain suspended on Muharram 10 and 11 in the capital. Mobile phone services would not be available on Muharram 10 from 10am to 4pm and from 9am till 10pm in areas of Bari Imam on Muharram 11, the deputy commissioner said.
Meanwhile,Media reported that the security level in Rawalpindi was raised to ‘red alert’ and 6,000 law enforcement personnel were in the district, as well as snipers on rooftops of buildings located along the route of the main procession.
The report said city areas would remain under tight security with roads closed for traffic and additional checkpoints and barriers set up.
A police spokesperson told Dawn that foolproof security arrangements had been made for Muharram 10 over 1,000 personnel had been deployed to perform traffic duties.
Moreover, the report said pillion riding, display of weapons and use of loudspeakers would be banned and legal action would be taken if the bans were violated.
PM's message on Ashura
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message on Ashura, said "the supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his family drew a distinct line between the forces of truth & falsehood, and the oppressor & the oppressed".
"The great Imam established a moral principle that has animated the struggles for right to self-determination."
The premier added that Imam Hussain’s message of “resistance and defiance will continue to inspire humanity to aspire for a moralistic world order that is based on universal principles of equality and freedom”.
Shehbaz stressed the need for seeking guidance from the exemplary character of Imam Hussain and his companions as “humanity navigates multiple challenges and seeks to break the logjam it finds itself in”.
