ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: A procession related to Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Husain was held in the federal capital amid strict security on Saturday.

Though the Chehlum is observed on Safar 20, the procession in Islamabad is held a day earlier. The main Chehlum procession will be held in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

The management of G-6 Imambargah along with many clerics had earlier asked the capital administration to relax security as normalcy had largely returned to the country in the wake of the military operations against terrorists.

Arrangements finalised for procession in Pindi today

“We all acknowledge that things have changed now and therefore all these extraordinary security measures, including erecting walls along the procession routes and preventing the locals from coming out of their houses, was not fair,” said Allama Arif Wahidi, secretary general Islami Tehreek and member of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

He said the general public had been stopped from participating in the procession by creating an atmosphere of fear.

In view of the improved security situation, mobile phone and internet services were not suspended in any part of the federal capital.

The procession started at midday from the imambargah in G-6.

A large number faithful participated in the procession, highlighting the sacrifices rendered by Imam Husain and his companions in Karbala.

The mourners were reciting Noha and beating their chests while some were caning themselves with chains in sorrow and in remembrance to the family of Hazrat Ali who were not treated in an inhumane manner by the forces of Yazid.

Local people had set up stalls to distribute ‘Niaz’ and offered food and drinks to the participants.

“This sabeel was started by my late mother some 40 years back. We offer cold water and sherbet in the summers but this year we have prepared tea for the participants,” said Mohammad Rizwan, a resident of G-6 1/3.

While the authorities maintained strict security, the Islamabad Traffic Police had a busy day managing smooth traffic flow mainly in Blue Area.

Section 144 imposed in Pindi

The district administration of Rawalpindi imposed Section 144 in the city and made arrangements for the Chehlum procession.

All bazaars and markets in Raja Bazaar and adjoining areas will remain closed on Sunday. The Metro Bus Service will also be suspended. The main route of the mourning procession was closed on Saturday night while placing containers.

The district administration established a control room to monitor the route of the mourning procession with close circuit TV cameras. Seminaries around the traditional route of the mourning procession have already been declared vacations. Taleemul Quran Seminary in Raja Bazaar declared holiday for a day.

A senior district administration official told Dawn that Pakistan Army and Rangers would help the district administration and police maintain law and order in case of an emergency.

He said Section 144 had been imposed and no gathering would be allowed in the district accept the mourning procession. He said the control room had been activated and hospitals were put on a red alert to deal with any emergency.

However, he said there was no direct threat but arrangements were made to provide a secure environment to the residents of the city.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Saifullah Dogar and City Police Officer Faisal Rana on Saturday reviewed the arrangements for the mourning procession.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2019