KARACHI/ ISLAMABAD: Several routes in Karachi and Islamabad were closed on Friday as part of security arrangements for Al-Quds Day rallies.

Al-Quds Day is observed globally every year since it was first announced by Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The day is observed on the last Friday of Ramazan to highlight the “atrocities of Israel against Palestinians”.

However, with the possibility of Eidul Fitr falling on next Friday if the Shawwal moon is sighted on March 19, the Al-Quds Day is being observed today.

Karachi

In a statement issued by the Office of the Karachi traffic deputy inspector general of police, citizens were informed that a religious group would organise a “Youm-i-Quds Rally” after Friday prayers, marching from Numaish to Aman Tower.

Accordingly, the road from Boat Basin towards Jinnah Bridge remained during the day closed. The road from PIDC going towards Jinnah Bridge on M.T. Khan Road was closed in both directions.

Traffic police said, “the closures were being implemented as part of security arrangements for the rally”.

The routes were reopened at night.

Earlier, the Sindh government had announced March 13 (today) as a public holiday across the province to facilitate observance of Al-Quds Day.

A notification issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah stated that all government offices, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils under the administrative control of the Sindh government would remain closed, except for essential services.

Provincial Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah had said that the holiday was announced in connection with Al-Quds Day, which is observed in Pakistan and other parts of the world to express solidarity with Palestinians and protest against the continued Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The Karachi administration also made arrangements for rallies and gatherings marking the occasion. The main Al-Quds rally started from Numaish Chowrangi and culminatecd on M.A. Jinnah Road after evening prayers.

Islamabad

In Islamabad, all routes leading to Markazi Imambargah G-6/2 and roads near sensitive installations were closed ahead of the Al-Quds procession.

The main procession in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on the day has traditionally been taken out from Markazi Imambargah G-6/2 and culminates at D-Chowk. But this year, the organisers said, authorities in the federal capital had asked them not to proceed beyond China Chowk as D-Chowk was located close to the Red Zone.

Hence, the procession culminated at China Chowk.

As part of the security arrangements, more than 3,000 police personnel were deployed in the capital and security was tightened in and around the G-6/2 sector. Roads around Markazi Imambargah were sealed, and containers were placed on key routes leading to the area.

Moreover, containers were placed on routes leading to the Red Zone at two points. The main road close to Aabpara and routes leading to the 7th Avenue — where sensitive security installations are located — from Shakarparian were also closed.

A traffic plan was also issued for the day.

A senior district administration official told Dawn that “extraordinary security arrangements” had been made, keeping in view the situation that emerged during protests on March 1, following the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Protests were witnessed in the capital city after the news of Khamenei’s assassination, in which at least two people were killed and dozens more were injured in clashes with law enforcement personnel.

The procession in Islamabad was organised by the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), Imamia Students Organisation (ISO), Shia Ulema Council Pakistan (SUC) and Tehreek-i-Bedari Ummat-i Mustafa.

MWM chief and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas addressed the participants of the procession, saying that the “first qibla” — a reference to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem — will one day be freed from the “zionist occupation”.

He reminded the participants that the Al-Quds Day was observed to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians.

Speaking about Khamenei, Abbas said he “gave his life for the dignity of the Islamic ummah, the voice of the oppressed Palestinians, and the liberation of Jerusalem”.

He criticised those who “support US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu … and the violators of human rights”.

SUC’s Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi also delivered an address, saying that the purpose of taking out processions on the Al-Quds Day was to highlight the plight of Palestinians.

“We cannot stay silent against oppression,” he asserted.