RAWALPINDI: Ashura processions were held peacefully in Rawalpindi and Taxila amid tight security on Wednesday.

In the Rawalpindi city, mourning processions were taken out from Imambargah Qadeemi, Imambargah Hazrat Ali Shah and Imambargah Col Maqbool, which culminated peacefully after passing through Committee Chowk, Iqbal Road, Raja Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Purana Qila and Jamia Masjid Road.

Special niaz and sabeel stalls were set up along the traditional routes of the processions.

After offering Zohrain prayers at Raja Bazaar, led by Amin Shaheedi, the main procession passed peacefully towards Jamia Masjid Road. A large number of people participated in the procession. The participants flagellated themselves to mourn the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions.

Special niaz and sabeel stalls were set up along the traditional routes of the processions

Heavy contingents of police and personnel of other law enforcement agencies cordoned off the route of the procession. They had put barricades on all the link roads along the route of the procession.

An aerial monitoring of the route was carried out by city district government and police officers who coordinated with a control room established at the RTMA office and the district courts.

Majlis Wadatul Muslimeen spokesman Husnain Zaidi told Dawn that the main mourning procession was held peacefully without any hurdle. “At the vulnerable points, more security was made.”

On Thursday, the mourning procession of Muharram 11 was taken out from Misrial Road, which culminated at Shah Pyara, Chur Chowk, under tight security.

Taxila

A large number of people, including women and children, participated in the Ashura procession amid tight security in the Taxila city.

The Tazia, Alam and Zuljinnah processions were taken out from various parts of the city which after passing through their traditional routes concluded at different imambargahs where zakirs narrated the tales of the tragedy of Karbala.

In Wah Cantonment, the main Zuljinnah procession was taken out from Markazi Imambargah at Haider Road. After sunset, the mourners gathered at Imambargah Qasar-i-Shabbir and held a majlis there.

In Hassanabdal, the main procession was taken out from Markazi Imambargah which after passing through its traditional route concluded at Mullpeeran.

In the Taxila city, the main procession was taken out from Museum Road which concluded at Imambargah Qasar-i-Shabbir. The mourners paid tributes to the sacrifices offered by the grandson of the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Traditional sabeels were set up along the routes of the processions to supply food, milk and water to the mourners.

The local administration had banned parking of vehicles near the procession route. Ambulances and special vehicles of the army moved along the procession. Doctors and paramedical staff were also present on the occasion.

The administration, police and law enforcement agencies made foolproof security arrangements to maintain peace during Ashura.

A group of people from the local Christian community also participated in the mourning procession in Taxila to express solidarity with the Shia community.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2016