HYDERABAD, Feb 18: Traditional turnout of people in Majalis and other Muharram related mourning processions remains largely missing in the city due to current wave of terror and different sorts of rumours about arrival of suicide bombers and planting of bombs.

The Anjuman-i-Hyderi, the host of central mourning procession on 10th of Muharram, has expressed deep concerns about security and holds police responsible for not taking them on board as far as security plan is concerned.

It was 7th of Muharram on Thursday when all mourning processions begin in different cities and people’s turnout reaches at its peak. Turnout of mourners in the city’s main event was the Mehendi of Gul Shah in Khokhar Mohallah which was not as well-attended as was once used to be. “You are right the rush of people was not there that is its hallmark”, said Nawaz Ali Bhutto, the president of Anjuman-i-Hyderi.

According to the regular visitors of place, mourners turnout

until recently had been around 50,000 but this time it plummeted to around 20,000 to 25,000.

Besides cold, the main reason is believed to be the recent terror incidents that have shaken parts of the country in the last couple of days. Besides, rumours about arrival of suicide bombers in different cities of Sindh, became a cause of worry for the people.

Normally bare footed people could be seen walking in groups on main roads which makes driving of cars very difficult. However, it is not the case this time round.

The roads remained deserted as far as movement of such groups of people is concerned. Even the number of sabeels and models, depicting scene of karbala, has dropped to a considerable level.

Two such camps that are a regular feature of every Muharram are not set-up this year. These camps are established at Kohinoor and Hyder Bux Jatoi roundabouts. The number of sabeels has visibly dropped and, according to one report, police did not allow the organisers to set up such sabeels.

The matam (mourning) on fire is one of the biggest events that is held in Tando Jehaniya every year on 8th of Muharram while Jamal Shah Ka Pir is scheduled to come out on ninth of Muharram.

However, people who come to see all these activities are not likely to visit these places in such a large number.

“The mourners are certainly there but the on-lookers are missing”, said Zawar Allah Dino.

As far as security measures are concerned, the district police has ensured deployment of 2,200 police force right from Qadam Gah-i-Maula Ali - the place from where all mourning processions of the city are taken out- to Karbala Dadan Shah where they culminate at around 4 pm.

President Anjuman-i-Hyderi Nawaz Ali Bhutto expressed concern over security measures in and around Qadam Gah –i-Maula Ali. “We do have some serious concerns about population living around Qadam Gah and its vicinity and police have not consulted us from this point of view. I have been trying to meet the DPO for the last four days but he hasn’t contacted us”, Bhutto added.

Anjuman-i-Hyderi carries the licenses for taking out central mourning procession on Ashura (10th of Muharram) and it has the responsibility of ensuring safe passage of head and tail of procession on that day without any hassle and within allotted time. The mourning processions are followed by Tazia procession on the same route from Tilak in-cline end.

According to DPO Imran Shaukat, police have taken care of this fact very well and that’s why over 2,000 police personnel would be deployed in that area. He said that he had personally met Anjuman-e-Hyderi people but its president was not in the city.

Qamaruudin adds from Mirpurkhas: After suicide bomb blast in an imambargah at Peshawar, panic gripped the people in the Mirpurkhas region and people, including women and children who had been taking part in the mourning processions preferred to stay indoor instead of attending them at different imambargahs.

Reports said that till the evening of 8th of Muharram attendance of the people, including women remained thin as compared to gatherings of last year. People were being allowed to enter the imambargahs after a thorough search.