RAWALPINDI: Ashura was observed peacefully in the city on Friday.

Special security arrangements were made by the district administration, police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies.

Mobile services remained partially suspended.

Air surveillance was also conducted in and around the traditional route of the mourning procession.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi accompanied by Punjab Minister for Literacy and Informal Education Raja Rashid Hafeez visited the city to review the security arrangements.

Walk-through gates were installed at all the entry points of the main procession with security personnel checking the participants with metal detectors. Thousands of people had set up sabeels along the route.

A total of 6,000 police personnel along with Rangers were deployed on the security duty. All roads and streets leading to the main procession route and imambargahs were blocked by placing barricades.

After performing Zanjir Zani at Fawara Chowk, the participants of the main procession reached Raja Bazaar and Purana Qila where Zuljinnah processions taken out from Imambargah Kashmirian Tyre Bazaar and Darbar Shah Chan Chiragh merged into it.

Talking to the media, Tehreek Nifaz-i-Fiqah Jafariya chief Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi criticised sanctions clamped on Azadari procession in India-held Kashmir and termed it a violation of human rights.

He said the international media was astonished at the oppression being perpetrated on the faithful by the Indian forces in the streets and towns of India-held Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the procession of Muharram 11 was taken out from Chuhr Chowk on Saturday. Police blocked Peshawar Road from Chuhr Chowk to Misrial Road and diverted the traffic.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2018