KARACHI: The 10th Muharram-ul-Haram (Ashura) processions taken out across the province on Tuesday amid tight security to commemorate supreme sacrifices of Imam Husain, grandson of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), his family and companions at Karbala concluded peacefully.

The main procession of Ashura in Karachi started from Nishter Park and culminated at Husainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar peacefully after having passed through traditional routes, according to South-Zone police statement.

The Sindh police chief appreciated the performance of police, Pakistan Rangers personnel and other law enforcers for taking the best and coordinated security steps for Majalis and processions from 1st to 10th Muharram.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah observed in a statement that Ashura day passed peacefully with coordinate efforts of police, Rangers personnel and other law enforcers. He praised religious scholars who worked against sectarianism.

Meanwhile, Edhi Foundation spokesperson said that 500 mourners were seriously injured during self-flagellation in the Ashura procession who were shifted to different hospitals for treatment.

Edhi Foundation had also established a mobile dispensary at Jama Cloth bus stop where paramedical staff and doctors provided treatment to the wounded mourners.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari said the Sindh police demonstrated exemplary performance as no untoward incident was reported during Ashura day.

In Hyderabad, mourners joined central procession brought out from Qadam Gah Maula Ali under the aegis of Anjuman-e-Hyderi.

Hazara community’s men led the central procession, reciting elegies. The procession ended at Karbala Dadan Shah.

Around 1,800 policemen were deployed on 1.7m long route from Qadam Gah to Karbala Dadan Shah and the procession’s movement was monitored through close circuit television cameras installed along the route.

Earlier on Ashura’s night, a heavy contingent of police rushed to Qadam Gah in the wake of ongoing rift between Anjuman-i-Hyderi and Anjuman-i-Imamia Sindh over the use of Qadam Gah.

In Badin, mourners took out processions from different parts of the city, which later merged into the main procession.

The main procession emerged from Kashyana-i-Zainab and returned to its starting point in the evening after passing through its traditional routes.

As many as 300 processions and 130 Majalis were held across the district where police and Rangers personnel provided security to the mourners.

Similar processions were brou­ght out in Matli, Tando Bago, Kadhan, Golarchi, Talhar and other towns amid tight security.

In Mirpurkhas, several processions emerged from different Imambargahs and passed through their routes in the city as well as other towns of the district.

Dozens of mourners suffered injuries during self-flagellation and were taken to civil hospital for treatment. Over 2,000 personnel of police and Rangers kept watch over the movement of the processions and sealed roads to facilitate the mourners.

Similar Ashura processions also taken out in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Phuladiyyoon, Jhilori etc amid strict security arrangements and all concluded peacefully.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2022