KOHAT: A combined mourners’ procession was held in Kohat on Monday, a day after Ashura, which was observed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with religious zeal and fervor on Sunday amid tight security.

The Kohat’s procession was held on Hangu road in Chakar Kot Bala area, which is a tradition, where mourners from Kohat, Orakzai and Kurram Agencies usually participate on 11th of Muharram to remember the tragedy of Karbala.

The speakers in their sermons highlighted the sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his family to uphold rule of law.

Meanwhile, three processions were taken out in the Kohat city from Rivia, Qaumi and Said Imambrgahs on the eve of Ashura.

The processions converged at Rivia Imambargah after passing through main bazaar.

Alam and Zuljinnah processions were taken out on Ashura which ended at the shrine of Ghazi Alam Shah Bokhari where prayers were offered.

Additional IGP monitored the processions at the control room through CCTV cameras.

In Kurram Agency, Ashura processions were taken out from three imambargahs in Parachinar, the headquarters of the tribal region, where the participants paid homage to Imam Hussain and his associates. Strict security arrangements were made on the occasion.

In Orakzai Agency, Yaum-i-Ashur was observed with religious fervor amid tight security. Mobile and internet services remained suspended throughout the day. Eleven small processions come out from different imambargahs in Kalaya which joined the central procession, which after passing through various traditional routes, reached central Imamabargah Anwaria Kalaya Darbar.

In Haripur, Yaum-i-Ashur processions ended peacefully in different parts of the district.

The Alam and Zuljinnah processions were taken out from Imambargah Qasar-i-Abi Talib Mankraey and four main processions from Panjkatha area of Khanpur which culminated at designated points amid tight security.

The speakers highlighted the sacrifices of 72 members of the family of prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and urged the audience to understand and follow spirit of sacrifice of Imam Hussain.

In Mansehra, the main Ashura procession could not be held in protest as the mourners wanted the district administration to heed a Peshawar High Court ruling, directing it to restore the pre-1980s procession route.

“We did not take out Ashura procession in protest and observed the rituals inside imambargahs as the police and the district administration didn’t widen our route in accordance with the court verdict,” Abid Hussain, custodian of Mufti Abad Imambargah located in heart of the city, told reporters on Sunday.

The district administration had limited Ashura procession route in the city following sectarian clashes in early 80s.

In Tank, the 10th of Muharram was observed with religious zeal and veneration. Adequate security measures were taken by the local administration to prevent any untoward incident.

Special majalis and congregations were being held on the occasion, where ulema and scholars highlighted the philosophy and importance of Karbala incident.

Yaum-i-Ashur was also observed in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat and other districts.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2017