ISLAMABAD: A procession related to the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain was held here amid strict security on Friday.

Though the Chehlum of Imam Hussain is observed on 20th of Safar, a procession in this regard is held a day earlier in Islamabad. The main Chehlum procession will be taken out in Rawalpindi on Saturday - 20th Safar.

The management of the G-6 mosque and imambargah and the capital administration had held several meetings to ensure that the procession timings did not clash with the Friday prayers in any mosque.

Main procession to be taken out in Rawalpindi today

“We always ensure that nobody is disturbed because of the procession and luckily there is no mosque on the route of the procession,” said Mohammad Naeem Shah, a spokesman for the G-6 Imambargah.

The Chehlum procession started prior to the Friday prayers from the G-6 imambargah after majlis-i- Aza there.

A large number people participated in the procession to highlight the sacrifices rendered by Imam Husain and his companions at Karbala.

The mourners were reciting Noha and beating their chests while some were caning themselves with chains in remembrance of the family of Hazrat Ali who were not treated in a humane manner by the forces of Yezid.

The speed of the procession was slow this year compared to the previous year when the atmosphere was tense due to the clash on Ashura day in Rawalpindi.

People take part in Imam Hussain’s Chehlum procession taken out in Islamabad on Friday. — White Star

Despite the cold weather, a large number of people, including women and children, remained barefooted during the procession.

Some people also distributed ‘niaz’ and established stalls offering food and drinks to the participants of the procession.

“My mother started this sabeel about 40 years ago. We offer cold water and sherbet to the participants in the summer and soup in the winter,” said Mohammad Rizwan, a resident of G-6 1/3.

The Islamabad police had chalked out an elaborate security plan and continued strict patrolling around the procession route.

Around 1,500 police and Rangers personnel were deployed along the route and inside the procession. Last year, 1,200 personnel were deployed on the route.

Amid surveillance by helicopters, additional teams of CID, Special Branch personnel were deployed to assist the security.

The procession ended at the Imambargah in G-6 late in the night.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2014