PESHAWAR/KOHAT: The Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) was observed peacefully in the provincial capital, Kohat and Hangu districts amid tight security on Monday.

Mobile phone service remained suspended on the occasion to ensure foolproof security of the mourning processions which were taken out on their designated routes.

Peshawar SSP operations Sajjad Khan told reporters that they had made a large police deployment to ensure peace on the Chehlum.

He said over 3,000 police personnel had been deputed for security and routes of all the processions were cleared by the bomb disposal unit.

The SSP said police had enclosed the areas of the interior city with tents and barbed wires where processions were taken out. Strict checking of people was also carried out in the areas bordering the tribal region.

The police officer said first procession was taken out from Imambargah Alamdar Karabala in Koocha Risaldar which ended at Imambargah Akhund Abad. Second procession was taken out from Imambargah Akhund Abad which culminated at the same place after passing through its designated route, while the third procession was taken out from Shia Jamia Masjid Koocha Risaldar, which culminated at the same place.

In Kohat, over 4,500 policemen and FC personnel guarded dozens of processions and the surrounding hills in Kohat and Hangu districts on the Chehlum of Imam Hussain.

The Chehlum was observed at more than 25 imambargahs on the Hangu highway in Kohat which remained blocked since Sunday, and the three imambargahs in the central city amid tight security.

Alam, Tazia and Zuljinah processions were taken out from Qaumi Imambargah, Said Habib Imambagarh and Rizvia Imambargh in the Kohat city.

The processions converged at Zargran Bazaar Chowk where speakers shed light on the great sacrifices rendered by Imam Hussain (AS). Then the processions after passing through the designated route culminated at Ghazi Aleem shrine, wherefrom the participants returned to their respective imambargahs.

District police officer Sohaib Ashraf and additional SP operations Tariq Mehmood accompanied the processions throughout which were monitored from main control room and drone and CCTV cameras. Mobile services also remained suspended which had not been restored till filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2016