KARACHI: The main 9th Muharram procession on Thursday passed peacefully in the city amid tight security.

The main majlis was held in the Nishtar Park where Allama Shahinshah Hussain Naqvi addressed the mourners.

Later a procession led by Shabbar Raza Zaidi was taken out from Nishtar Park in the afternoon.

They offered Namaz-i-Zohrain at Imambargah Ali Raza on main M. A. Jinnah Road.

Subsequently, after passing through various traditional routes, the procession culminated at Husanian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.

Several key roads leading to the procession route remained closed for traffic, which was diverted to alternative routes.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic Police Karachi Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir visited the route of the main procession from Nishtar Park to Kharadar.

The DIG Traffic Karachi reviewed the deployment of traffic police personnel on the route of the procession, said a spokesman for traffic Police of Karachi.

The DIG Traffic was also briefed about the deployment of the traffic police on the route of main procession and alternative routes made for smooth flow of traffic.

City SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro told Dawn that the procession entered Kharadar at 7.15pm where a Majlis held.

No untoward incident was reported, added the officer.

Mobile phone service to remain suspended today

Like Wednesday, the citizens on Thursday experienced partial suspension of cellular services in the city and other parts of Sindh.

According to officials, the cell phone services will remain suspended between 7am and 12 midnight on 10th of Muharram (Friday) in different cities of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Jacobabad.

However, the officials added that in the provincial capital, the mobile phone service would be blocked only in areas near procession routes for the convenience of the public.

Mobile services are suspended every year during Ashura as part of security measures.

The provincial government has written a letter to the federal interior ministry and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), urging them to place a ban on mobile services/internet in major cities of Sindh on 8th, 9th and 10th of Muharram.

The ban on cell phone/internet was suggested in view of “apprehensions of coordination of criminal activity by miscreants/criminals through the use of cellular phones/internet during Muharram related Majlis (religious gathering) and processions,” according to contents of the letter.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2018