02 March 2004	Tuesday	10 Muharram 1425

LAHORE, March 1: The main Zuljinnah procession, accompanied by police commandos and troops, was taken out from Nisar Haveli inside the Walled City at 11pm on Monday.

Law and order situation was reported to be under control so far in the city and elsewhere in the Punjab amid threats of terrorism, especially after the alleged suicide attack in Rawalpindi.

Punjab police chief Syed Masood Shah told Dawn on Monday night that some of the processions and majalis had ended peacefully and the others were in progress. "The situation is normal throughout the province," he said, iterating that elaborate security arrangements had been made to thwart any terrorism.

He said the army troops had been called, but it was not clear whether they had been stationed formally. "They are available to aid other forces in case of an emergency. Let us hope that Ashura will end peacefully," he said in response to an answer.

The main procession is scheduled to culminate at Karbala Gamay Shah with a huge gathering of mourners attending the 'Sham-i- Ghareeban" at sunset on 10th of Muharram.

This Muharram is facing an open threat from the terrorists, especially after the alleged suicide attack. "There is no breakthrough as such as far as investigation into the attack is concerned. Efforts are under way to establish the identity of the alleged bomber," the IGP said.

Leaders from both the sects and foreigners had already been warned and asked to inform police about their movement in advance. Their installations had also been provided with extra security cover to avoid any untoward situation.

The Punjab administration has made unprecedented security arrangements throughout the province. Sensitive areas have been spotted out and manned with heavy contingent of forces from police, army, Punjab Constabulary, intelligence agencies and Elite Force. More security force has been sent to six districts in the province, which had been declared sensitive.

The route of the main Zuljinnah procession was scanned by the police, city administration and army with metal detectors, bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs. The route was covered with a blanket of security.

"Over 6,000 policemen, besides men from other forces, are on duty only in Lahore. Special focus of the forces is to search and frisk everybody on entrances and exits to the processions," DIG Tariq Saleem said.

The main procession will pass through Mohallah Chehal Bibian, Imambargah Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Lakar Mandi Bazaar, Imambargah Mehdi Shah, Mubarik Haveli, Chowk Nawab Sahib, Kucha Qazi Khana, Imambargah Mulvi Feroze Ali, Kucha Maskinian, Mohallah Pir Gilanian, Imambargah Rajab Ali Shah, Chohata Mufti Baqar, Chowk Purani Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazaar, Suneri Masjid, Dabbi Bazaar, Suha Bazaar, Gumti Bazaar, Sad Mitha Bazaar, Tehsil Bazaar, Bazaar Hakiman, Uunchi Masjid and Bhati Chowk.

A large number of mourners participated in the procession. There was, however, a visible decrease in wearing the black mourning dresses reflecting a fear of the recent terrorist attack. They were reciting Nohas in groups while there were sabeels of water and milk on different places en route.

The mourners also arranged a gathering of Quran Khwani and majalis were held on different spots. The MCL and Wapda workers, doctors and paramedical staff from different city hospitals accompanied the procession.

The Wapda staffers were busy in disconnecting and restoring electricity before and after the crossing of Tazias on the route while the municipal staff carried out patch-work and spray along the route. The sanitation staff sprinkled water on the route apart from carrying out routine sweeping.

Plainclothesmen from the army, police and intelligence agencies were part of the Zuljinnah. The policemen were also deployed at rooftops of different houses alongside the procession route. The residents of the area had already been asked not to open doors and windows on the procession route.

The route was divided into 15 to 20 sectors by the city administration and the police for carrying out their work effectively. A DSP was commanding each sector and officials from other agencies were helping him out, especially for co-ordination with other sectors.

All the sectors were directed to keep themselves in touch with one another and with the control rooms, which had been set up at city police chief office, DCO office, and separate army control-rooms.

The sectors were also passing every move of the Zuljinnah procession to their senior officers, who also inspected the route and visited many majalis. The administration also had force in reserve.

Men from police and intelligence agencies were busy in making movies of the procession as part of preventive measure for identification of outlaws in case of any untoward situation.

All the entrance and exit points to the procession were chocked by the force. Volunteers, peace committees and other organizations were helping the forces in checking and searching the people at the points.

Meanwhile, the army has taken control of all the forces deployed for the security arrangements. The forces were issued instructions to report every move to the army.

The army command also set up camps in different areas of the city. The camps were supposed to initiate security measures and receive reports to act accordingly in case of an emergency.

The army troops took a round of the city with a flag march. The troops visited Bibi Pak Daman, Imambargah Washing Line, Imambargah Gulshan Zehra, Imambargah Abul Fazal Abbas and Imambargah Baitul Qudoos.