PESHAWAR, Jan 29: Heavy contingents comprising policemen, members of the Quick Response Force of the Frontier Constabulary and personnel of other law-enforcement agencies were guarding the 9th Muharram procession which was taken out on Monday.

In the aftermath of Saturday’s attack, the security personnel sealed off the Peshawar Cantonment and restricted the movement of locals. Police had also been deployed in the cantonment and other sensitive points to thwart any untoward situation.

The situation on Monday remained calm while the mourners passed through different roads to pay tribute to Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions for sacrificing their lives in Karbala.

The main procession of Zuljanah and Alam was taken out from Imambargah Hussainia.

The newly-appointed Chief Capital Police Officer, Abdul Majeed Marwat, said the army was asked to remain alert. “The situation in the city is in full control of the police and security forces, along with the Frontier Constabulary, are guarding the sensitive areas,” he said.

He said security arrangements for 10th of Muharram had been given a final shape while the forces would remain on high alert to avoid any untoward incident.

About the installation of close-circuit cameras, Mr Marwat said these had been installed around Hussainia Imambargah and other areas to film the processions and to discern the movement of suspicious people.

The Chief Capital Police Officer said some people may try to create problems but the law enforcing agencies had been asked to make all the areas secure.

According to City Nazim Ghulam Ali, Saturday’s bomb attack was an act of terrorism and that it should not be linked to sectarianism.

If the circumstances demand Army would be called in to control the situation. A committee under the head of Additional Inspector General Fayyaz

Toru is investigating the incident with different angles but no arrests have so far been made, the newly appointed CCPO informed.

The Anjuaman Tajiran-e-Peshawar had announced three-day mourning from Jan 28-30. On Monday they arranged Khatam-e-Quran for blast victims at various mosques, including Masjid Qasim Ali Khan. All business centres remained closed to mourn the death of honest and dedicated police officers.—PPI