HYDERABAD: Mobile service has been suspended for first time in the city on recommendation of Hyderabad police on in view of sensitivity of the 7th Muharram procession.

Strict security arrangements were put in place for ritual of ”Jamaitan Jo Pir” procession that was to be taken out late on Monday night from Tando Mir Mehmood.

Usually, mobile coverage is not suspended on 7th Muharram in the past but this year it remained suspended since 1pm (Monday). As its practice in vogue police ordered closure of shops in and around Fakir Ka Pir at around 3pm. Barbed wires were placed in the locality while flow of vehicles from the City Cloth Market and Guru Nagar ends was closed. The points were to remain blocked till (Monday-Tuesday) midnight.

Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) squad would also search the area in the evening. Mourners from different parts of Sindh had started reaching by Monday evening and stay there till midnight.

“We had recommended suspension of mobile coverage in the area that serves as the route for this 7th Muharram procession,” said Hydera­bad SSP Abdul Salam Sheikh. He said that mobile service is affected in the area from where procession passes through but since cellular tower remained closed the network coverage service is affected in the periphery. He said that 7th Muharram procession is an important event of Hyderabad. He said that when compared with Ashura procession of the city on 10th Muh­arram this 7th Muharram procession is typical in nature because it covers different spots in different locations thus becoming vulnerable security wise.

According to him, over 700 policemen have been deployed along the route of procession in three shifts. “250 or so personnel will be performing duty in each shift till Tuesday”, said SSP.

Ashura’s procession is staged on a straight route from Qadam Gah Maula Ali to Karbala Dadan Shah on Station Road. The head and tail of central procession is monitored through multiple closed circuit television cameras in a central control room.

Last year coronavirus fears had some psychological impact on people. But this year people are relatively feeling bit relaxed after recent complete lockdown till July 31 as far as Covid-19 SOPs are concerned. Police are therefore anticipating larger crowd in Monday’s procession. A large number of onlookers are also there besides mourners.

Police have sealed the route from Tando Mir Mehmood upto Faqir Ka Pir, a commercial area, since 3pm. This point serves as main passage where 7th Muharram “Jamaitan Jo Pir” or “Jam­tiyon ka Pir” reaches its peak at around 1.15am after emerging from the imam bargah located in a narrow passage.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2021