HYDERABAD, Jan 21: Ashura was observed in the city under elaborate security arrangements on Sunday as no unpleasant incident was reported from any quarter.

The central mourning procession that originated from Qadam Gah Maula Ali terminated at Karbala Dadan Shah. The turnout of onlookers who usually gathered in large number on the 10th of Muharram was, however, negligible.

Mourners emerged from the Qadam Gah Maula Ali at around 10am although the procession is supposed to begin at around 8.30am after special prayers. The mourners from 21-Anjumans from different parts of the city performed Azadari.

The central procession crossed the St. Mary’s Girls High School point right at 3.30pm – the time allotted by the administration to Anjuman-i-Hyderi, the procession’s organiser. It was followed by tazia procession that culminated at Phulelli late in the evening.

Stringent security arrangements were witnessed throughout the day. Entire route of the procession was heavily manned by police as well as rangers. All streets remained blocked with barbed wires. No one was allowed to enter main route stretching up to Dadan Shah. The mourners were asked to join the procession from the tail.

Mourners performed Zohrain prayers at Abdullah radio service which was followed by a Majlis.

Besides Anjuman-e-Hyderi and other social welfare organisations, MQM’s Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation (KKF) set up its main camp in front of the Habib Bank Limited branch. The MQM had, however, restricted its Muharram related activities by reducing its camps to just one. Otherwise, MQM sets up camps at other locations as well. KKF’s ambulance service for mourning procession elsewhere, however, continued. MQM activists even didn’t allow its own cadres without showing identification cards.

Majlis-i-Sham-i-Ghariban was held in the evening.

Roads in the city were opened for traffic at around 8pm.