PESHAWAR/Haripur: Muharram 9 was observed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday amid tight security and suspension of mobile phone service.

No untoward incident was reported.

Two main mourning processions were taken out in Peshawar with participants holding alams, beating chests and flagellating to highlight the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and others in Karbala.

One procession emerged from the Hussainia Hall Imambargah on Saddar Road before other processions from different parts of the district merged with it.

All shopping malls and markets, including Saddar Bazaar, were closed to facilitate procession.

The police blocked entry points to the procession route from the Mall, Stadium Chowk and Fakhr Alam Road and gave their access to mourners only.

No untoward incident reported in province

Volunteers of the Imamia Student Organisation helped law-enforcement personnel check mourners, who were allowed to join processions only after body search and entering walk-through gates.

The speakers highlighted the importance of Muharram 9, especially the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and other martyrs of Karbala.

The mourners used the traditional route on Saddar Road, Kalabari and Fawara Chowk, where the organisers put up sabeel (sherbet distribution points) and Rescue 1122 established a medical camp to handle emergency.

The procession culminated at the Imambargah Hussainia Hall peacefully after zuhrain prayers.

The second main Muharram 9 procession was taken out from Imambargah Sakhi Munnawar Shah in the city area.

Small processions from Imambargah Khan Sahab Haji Malik Rehman in Mohallah Marveeha, Imambargah Qamar Bani Hasham, Imambargah Sain Zareen Imamia Colony, Imambargah Hussainabad, Imambargah Phatar Wala Mohalla Ganj, Imambargah Al-Baqar Shah Sadaat and Imambargh Bibi Zakria joined it.

Personnel of the law-enforcement agencies monitored processions through closed-circuit television cameras and video recording, while bomb disposal unit officials checked procession routes with the help of equipment and sniffer dogs.

Reciting noha and flagellating, the mourners returned to Imambargah Sakhi Munnawar Shah in the evening.

Many small processions led by religious scholars were taken out from imambargahs.

The mobile phone service remained suspended, while the Bus Rapid Transit service was stopped for two days as part of security plan.

The police blocked all entry points to the city to facilitate mourners and avert any untoward incident.

Senior police officials visited procession routes to check security checks.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan visited the central control room and learned about security arrangements.

The chief secretary, inspector general of police, provincial ministers and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Officials told the CM that all mourning processions were monitored through closed-circuit television and drone cameras in 14 districts of the province.

Muharram 9 was also observed amid tight security in Haripur.

The mobile phone service was suspended from morning to afternoon.

The main procession was taken out from Imambargah Imamia Sajjadia in Mohallah Motian. It ended at Imambargah Qadeemia in Mohallah Chowki Police.

The mourners beat chests and flagellated amid the recitation of noha on the procession route, which was protected by the police and Elite Force.

Walk-through gates were installed for the screening of procession participants, including mourners, while the procession surveillance was carried out by drone cameras, video recording and CCTV cameras.

As part of security measures, the Haripur administration sealed the main bazaar and all link roads on Friday evening, while the mobile phone service was suspended during the procession timing.

Hazara commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud, DPO Syed Ashfaq Anwar and other administration officials visited the procession route and reviewed security arrangements.

DPO Ashfaq Anwar said 1,800 police personnel and three platoons of FC were deployed throughout the district for Muharram processions and majalis, while a company of Pakistan Army was on call for emergency situation.

He said Afghan refugees were restricted to their camps for first 10 days of Muharram, while pillion riding was banned in the district.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2020