LAHORE: The main Zuljinah procession was taken out of the Nisar Haveli, Mochi Gate, on Saturday night under tight security. A large number of mourners accompanied the procession, beating their chests and reciting Nohas.

The Muharram 9 main procession started from Pando Street Imambargah after Fajr prayers and passing through traditional route including Alamgir Road, Main Bazaar, Islampura, Civil Secretariat, Old Anarkali, Jain Mandar, IG Office and Dayanat Road concluded peacefully at Pando Street.The mourners performed Zuhrain prayersnear Noori Building and the procession again started moving forward and reached main bazaar, Islampura, and reached IG Office.

At IG office, the mourners offered Maghribain and again passing through Civil Secretariat, Dayanat Road and Alamgir Road culminated the procession at Pando Street. A number of small processions emerging from different localities also continued joining it.

Self-flagellation is an important aspect of the procession which starts in Mochi Gate during the morning prayers call and continues till its culmination at Karbala Gamey Shah in the evening.

Sabeels offering eatables, tea, water and sherbet were set up inside Mochi Gate and on the route of the procession by members of the Sunni community. Medical camps were set up by Hussainian Scout, Rescue 1122 and Edhi Foundation. They provided first aid treatment to those mourners who were injured seriously.

The route [of the procession] was sealed with barbed wires, containers and barricades and participants were only allowed entry after checking at four points; frisking, checking with metal detectors, walk-through gates and CCTV monitoring.

The entire procession route was also monitored through 360 CCTV cameras. Drone cameras were also used to keep an eye on any suspicious person or activity. The Punjab government had banned pillion-riding throughout the province and mobile service was also suspended in and around areas of the procession routes. The security personnel got closed all the shops, markets and windows of the houses on the route. No one was allowed to stand on the roof of the houses and other high-rise buildings. A number of snipers were also deployed at the buildings. Earlier, bomb disposal squad, sniffer dogs and special branch officials had visited the route to issue clearance certificate.

Teams of Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit and Elite Force were on patrol near the route of the procession. Senior police officers were on patrol as well to review security arrangements.

The processions had been geo-tagged and monitored through control rooms set up at offices of DIG Operations, CCPO, City District Government and Safe City Authority.

As far as traffic arrangements were concerned, 1,260 wardens, 56 patrolling officers, 69 inspectors, six DSPs, two SPs under the supervision of the CTO performed duty. They had set diversions on the route.

On Muharram 10, the main procession will begin from Nisar Haveli [at midnight] and after passing through the Walled City will conclude at Karbala Gamay Shah.

It will pass through Mohalla Chehl Bibian, Imambargah Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Chowk Nawab Sahib, Koocha Qazi Khana, Imambargah Maulvi Feroz Ali, Koocha Miskeenan, Mohalla Pir Gillanian, Imambargah Syed Rajab Ali Shah, Chauhatta Mufti Baqir, Chowk Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazaar, Sonehri Masjid, Dabbi Bazaar, Gumti Bazaar (Rang Mahal Chowk), Said Mittha Bazaar, Tehsil Bazaar, Bazaar Hakimaan, Ucchi Masjid, Bhaati Chowk and conclude at Karbala Gamay Shah. Various small processions will join it.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2017