ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi on Thursday visited the Safe City Project office and reviewed the security measures for Muharram processions and monitored them from the control room, an official of the ministry told Dawn.

The processions were taken out from Markazi Imambargah G-6/2 and Imambargah Qasre Imam Musa Kazim I-10/1.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jan Mohammad briefed the minister about the Muharram security and processions to be taken out on Ashura.

A total 17 processions would be taken out in different parts of the capital on Friday.

About 2,586 personnel along with contingents of Frontier Constabulary have been deployed for the security of the processions, the IGP said.

The Army was also called on the request of the capital administration, the officer said, adding the military troops would be on a standby.

The minister also visited a procession in G-6/2 and expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements as well as freedom of movement provided to the participants.

Accompanied by senior police officials and Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqat, the minister told the media at Imambarghah G-6 that the security of processions could not be compromised but at the same time it had been ensured that the measures did not create hurdles for the mourners.

Though temperature was hovering above 35 degrees Celcius the procession was heavily participated and the ‘element of fear’ was negligible.

Security measures were managed by police, Rangers, FC personnel as well as volunteers and all the participants had to enter the procession after being physically checked.

However, parking remained a serious challenge not only for the motorists but also for the traffic police.

From Polyclinic to Jinnah Avenue and service road of Blue Area up to G6-1/2, the traffic police personnel remained busy streamlining the traffic.

The procession commenced at around 1pm after majlis from markazi Imambarghah at G-6.

the security authorities were comparatively less strict with those bringing food items to offer ‘niaz’ to the mourners.

The procession culminated at G-6 Imambarghah late night after passing through its designated route that included G-6 ½, Melody Market and Polyclinic.

The mourning procession consisted of alam, shabi Zuljinah, tazia, taboot and Ghewara Shehzada Ali Asghar while the participants recited ‘Noha’ highlighting the sacrifices rendered by Imam Hussain, his companions and family members at Karbala.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2018