HYDERABAD: Mourners took out Ashura processions in all big and small towns in Sindh on Friday, beating chests and paying respects to models of shrines of the Karbala martyrs and zuljanah as they marched to their appointed destinations amid tight security.

The town administrations had tightened security for the day with the deployment of hundreds of police and Rangers personnel along the processions’ routes and suspended cellular service to thwart feared use of mobile phones in subversive activities. CCTV cameras were also installed at important points to monitor movement of the processions.

The processions left their starting points early in the morning and peacefully returned to them or reached the designated destinations after covering traditional routes.

In Hyderabad, several big and small mourning processions were brought out while the central procession was taken out from Qadamgah Maula Ali on Station Road and culminated at Karbala Dadan Shah. A majlis was held on the road during the procession while Friday prayers were held at Qadamgah Maula Ali.

Some tazia processions were taken out in the evening from Tower market area and moved towards Phulelli following an old tradition.

Anjuman-i-Hyderi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and various other social welfare organisations had set up medical camps along the route.

Personnel of Bomb Disposal Squad had cleared the entire route before the procession started its march. Around 5,000 policemen were deployed for the security of the processions. The mourners who received injuries during matam were immediately shifted to Liaquat University Hospital, said a police spokesman.

MIPURKHAS: Eighty-five big and small processions were taken out from different Imambargahs in the city and its adjoining towns on Friday amid strict security.

Over 2,100 police and Rangers personnel were deployed along the processions’ routes. Medical camps were set up by NGOs to provide first aid to mourners. All processions reached their destinations peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

NAWABSHAH: Several processions were brought out by the faithful amid tight security arrangements by police and Rangers personnel.

The city’s main procession emerged from Murtazavi Imambargah in which many small processions merged. Many CCTV cameras were installed at important points to monitor movement of the processions.

MITHI: Many mourning processions were taken out in Mithi, Nagarparkar, Diplo, Islamkot, Kaloi, Kantio, Chelhar, Chhachhro, Dahli and other towns of the district.

In Mithi, a large number of Hindu women also took part in the mourning procession to show their respects to the martyrs.

BADIN: Several processions were taken out in the town which later merged in the central procession and concluded peacefully in the evening.

At a majlis, Dr Mukhtiar Jafferi said that terrorism in the world could not be eliminated till followers of Yazeedi forces and their facilitators were identified and dealt with iron hands.

DADU: Fifty-one mourning processions were taken out from different parts of the city and adjoining towns in the district.

The main procession emerged from central Imambargah Hyderi amid tight security which was later joined by many small processions before it reached New Chowk at 8pm.

Ashura processions were also taken out in Mehar, Radhan, Phulji Station, Piaro Goth, Rukkan, Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Thrari Mohabbat, Kotri, Manjhand, Sann, Laky Shah Saddar, Jamshoro, Thana Bula Khan and Nooriabad towns.

KHAIRPUR: Ashura processions were taken out from various Imambargahs maid tight security which passed through traditional routes and reached appointed destinations peacefully. Strict security arrangements were made by police and Rangers personnel while mobile phone networks had remained suspended for the past three days.

SUKKUR: Several Ashura processions were taken out in big and small towns of upper Sindh including Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Ghotki district.

In Sukkur, the main procession was taken out from central Imambargah and in Jacobabad, the 10th Muharram procession was brought out from Imambargah Hajan Shah.

In Kandhkot, 26 processions were taken out from different places and in Ghotki, 15 Muharram processions were brought out from different areas of the town.

Meanwhile, 500-year-old Tazia Karbala Mualla was taken out on the midnight eighth and ninth Muharram in Rohri in which hundreds of thousands of mourners took part.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2018