Violating the Sindh government’s ban on religious processions and congregations, several hundred mourners took out a procession on Hyderabad's Station Road after crossing barbed wires to observe Youm-i-Ali today.

The district administration and police had last night made it clear to the Anjuman-e-Imamiya Sindh (AIS), which holds a permit for holding the Youm-i-Ali procession every year, that the procession could not be taken out on Friday in view of the ban.

But AIS general secretary Mirza Sadiq said it had been agreed with police that mourners would be allowed to reach Qadamgah Maula Ali to hold a majlis, and accused the police of stopping the participants from doing so.

On the other hand, SSP Hyderabad Adeel Chandio said: “AIS leaders had agreed to hold majlis inside Qadamgah but they didn’t abide by their commitment."

FIRs have been registered against at least 15 identified and more than 200 unidentified persons for violating the ban.