PESHAWAR/MANSEHRA: The processions of 9th Muharram ended peacefully in Peshawar on Monday as stringent security measures were taken for the protection of mourners.

Besides deployment of heavy contingents of police and Frontier Constabulary on the routes of processions, aerial surveillance was also conducted. The central procession was taken out from Imambargah Hussainia Hall in Peshawar Saddar.

Other processions were taken out from Imambargah Bi Bi Sain, Imambargah Sain Gulab, Alamdar Karbala Kocha Risaldar, Imambargah Sain Zareen, Imambargah Qamar Banai Hashim, Imam bargah Phatar Wala Mohallah Ganj, Imambargah Purn Wali Sarkar, Imambargah Main Malangri, Imambargah Al- Sadaat, Imambargah Akhun Ahmed, Imambargah Mohallah New Bajauri Church Road, Imambargah Syed Alam Shah Nasir Khan Chowk, Imambargah Agha Syed Mir Haider Shah, Imambargah Haji Rehman Marveeha, Imambargah Agha Bahadur Ali Kiyani, Imambargah Hussainabad and Imambargah Syed Ali Shah Rizvi.

The mourners followed the traditional routes and recalled the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions for the supremacy of Islam. They said that the matchless sacrifices of the Karbala martyrs had saved Islam which would be remembered with golden words.

Roads and streets remain closed for the security of processionists

Young mourners at the procession. — INP/APP

Strict security measures were taken on the occasion and all the roads and streets were closed by deploying FC and police personnel. The main GT Road also remained closed to traffic owing to processions at Gulbahar.

Similarly, the movement of people was restricted at Bacha Khan Chowk and motorists faced severe hardships. A number of employees of private organisations said that they were not allowed to pass through the area and faced problems to reach their offices.

Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani personally monitored the security situation and visited the sensitive areas in Peshawar. He also met with the organisers of processions. Commissioner Munir Azam and Deputy Commisioner Syed Zaheerul Islam also visited sensitive areas.

Talking to journalists, the IGP said that foolproof security arrangements were made for peaceful observance of Muharram throughout the province. He added that strict security arrangements were made for the gatherings of women and policewomen were deployed for the purpose.

The IGP also visited city areas where he inspected security arrangements at different Imambargahs. The police chief also reviewed the Muharram security arrangements on various checkpoints at Gulbahar.

In Mansehra, the administration sealed the roads leading to central Imambargah a day before Ashura in view of the suicide attack near Wagah border in Lahore on Sunday.

The roads leading to Imambargah Hussainia Muftiabad were presenting a deserted as police restricted movement of people in the area. Policemen were also deployed at the Imambargah.

More than 1,500 law enforcers have deployed for Muharram security in Mansehra, which has been included in the list of sensitive districts by the provincial government.

Army could be called in case of any emergency. Assistant Commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan visited the Imambargah and checked the security and cleanliness measures taken by the municipal committee.

He said that the focal persons of every government department were tasked with various assignments.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2014