HYDERABAD: Like all parts of the country, Shia faithful observed Yaum-i-Ashura with traditional zeal and fervour across the province on Thursday by taking out tazia and alam-bearing mourning processions led by finely decorated zuljanah amid tight security arrangements.

In Hyderabad, central Ashura procession was brought out by Anjuman-i-Hyderi, which emerged from Qadam Gah Maula Ali and culminated at Karbala Dadan Shah Imambargah.

The entire route from Qadam Gah to Karbala Dadan Shah now has closed-circuit television cameras, which has enabled police to easily monitor the procession’s movement while sitting in City police station where a central control room has been set up.

The administration had made tight security arrangements along the processions’ routes. Police also used sniffer dogs to check mourners before allowing them to join processions. Earlier, Bomb Disposal Squad officials swept the area along the entire route before allowing the procession to move.

The second big procession was staged outside Anjuman-i-Rizvia in Gari Khata followed by processions in Saddar Bazaar and elsewhere.

Similar processions were taken out in Bhitshah, Tando Allahyar, Jamshoro and Tando Mohammad Khan towns.

SUKKUR: Shia faithful participated in large numbers in processions and majalis where scholars threw light on the supreme sacrifice laid down by grandson of the Prophet (PBUH) and members of his family.

Sabeels were set up along the processions’ routes which offered cool water and sherbet to the mourners and general public.

Members of the Hindu community had also set up stalls offering cool sweet drinks and food to mourners in the name of martyrs of Karbala.

All processions, which had emerged from several localities of the city, converged on the Clock Tower roundabout after Zohr prayers from where they moved to Miran Road to join Geelani Tazia at about 5pm.

MIRPURKHAS: Dozens of processions were taken out in different areas and Imambargahs of the city amid strict security arrangements.

Police carried out body search of people before allowing them to enter the Imambargahs and medical aid camps and sabeels were set up along the processions’ routes by social organisations and different departments.

The main procession of the city was taken out from Bukhari Ka Pir while similar processions were brought out in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Sindhri, Hingorno, Phuladiyyoon and Jhilori amid tight security arrangements.

BADIN: Shia faithful observed Ashura amid strict security arrangements. As many as 485 processions and 185 majalis were held across the district.

SSP Shabbir Ahmed Sethar said that 400 police constables, commandos and 120 personnel of Rangers were deployed at 115 Imambargahs in the district to ensure protection to all processions.

The main procession was taken out from Kashiyana-i-Zainabiya Imambargah, which passed through various areas before returning to its starting point in the evening.

Meanwhile, some unknown miscreants wrote disrespectful remarks about highly revered personalities of Islam on a mosque wall in Kadhan town.

Police, however, managed to bring the situation under control by lodging an FIR under section 298-A against the unknown persons who had hurt peoples’ religious feelings.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2021