KARACHI, Jan 9: Yaum-i-Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, was observed in the city with religious sanctity and solemnity.

The main procession was taken out from Nishtar Park where a majlis was earlier held on Thursday morning. Other small processions from different areas of the city also joined the central procession that after passing through its designated route culminated at Imambargah Hussainian Iranian, Kharadar, in the evening.

Holding alams (flags), the mourners recited nauhas and marsiahs to narrate the supreme sacrifices rendered by Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in Karbala for the cause of righteousness.

Zuljinahs, Tazias and Taboot were also carried along with the procession as lunger and sabeel was served to mourners.

The mourners marched on M.A. Jinnah Road and offered prayers near Tibet Centre at Zuhar. Afterwards, a group of mourners burnt flags of the US and Israel to protest against the brutal Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza. They pledged to remain steadfast against forces of oppression and vehemently condemned inhuman Israeli aggression against Palestinians. Sabeels and medical camps were set up on both sides of M.A. Jinnah Road to provide water and first-aid treatment to the mourners during the processions.

Fool-proof security arrangements had been made to ensure peaceful organisation of the procession. Thousands of personnel of police and rangers were posted on the route of the Ashura procession and all the entry and exit points on M.A. Jinnah Road from Numaish to Kharadar were blocked by placing tankers and trucks.

Karachi police chief Waseem Ahmed told media persons that thousands of personnel were posted to beef up security of the mourners while aerial surveillance was also conducted on Ashura in the city.

More than 700 wardens of the city district government also joined the administration to provide security to the procession.