RAWALPINDI: The procession held in connection with the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) ended peacefully amid tight security in the city on Saturday.

The procession, led by Tehreek Nifaz Fiqa-i-Jafariya chief Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi, was brought out from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain, Teli Mohallah.

Two small processions taken out from Imambargah Hifazat Ali, Bohar Bazaar, and Imambargah Col Maqbool Hussain joined it at Bohar Bazaar Chowk.

As many as 4,500 personnel of law enforcement agencies were deployed along the route

The main procession culminated at Imambargah Qadeemi after passing through Murree Road, Iqbal Road, Fawara Chowk, Raja Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Purana Qila and Jamia Mosque Road.  

Two other processions were brought out from Imambargah Yaadgar-i-Hussain at Satellite Town and Imambargah Baltistania Aangaatpura which also ended at Imambargah Qadeemi after passing through Asghar Mall, Kohati Bazaar and Banni Chowk.

Thousands of people participated in the processions. The mourners observed self-flagellation with chains at four places – Bohar Bazaar Chowk, Bara Market, Fawara Chowk and Banni Chowk.

In their sermons, scholars threw light on the significance of sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain and other martyrs of Karbala.

More than 4,500 policemen and personnel of other law enforcement agencies had been deployed along the route of the procession. The police had installed barricades on the slip streets and roads along the route.

Anti-riot personnel, plainclothesmen and policewomen patrolled the city. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.

All markets on the route of the procession remained closed. Markets and shops in other areas of the city such as Saddar, Commercial Market and Chaklala remained open.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2014