KARACHI, March 1: The main procession of mourners was taken out amidst tight security from Nishter Park on Monday.

City police took extraordinary measures to provide maximum possible security to the procession, which terminated at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah.

DIG Operations Tariq Jamil said, "We have taken unprecedented security measures and deployed 17,000 officials in the metropolis. No untoward incident is reported anywhere in the city on Monday. The security umbrella will continue to exist on Muharram 10th and the police will remain on red alert," he said.

The police closed each and every street linking M.A. Jinnah Road with Preedy Street and Frere Road by parking big containers and water tankers and erecting tent walls. The police even did not allow pedestrians to cross Frere Road and Preedy Street.

People, living around the area, complained that the police had restricted their movement which created problems to them and their families. "The threat perception is very high in view of the Rawalpindi explosion at an Imambargah and recent killing of Maulana Azam Tariq.

We have tried to take maximum security measures and banned the access of vehicles to the procession's route to minimize the possibility of any terrorist attempt," said Mr Jamil.

The mourners gathered at Nishter Park where religious scholars delivered sermons. The mourners came out in the shape of a procession at the intersection of Purani Numaish where other small processions from other places also joined the main procession.

The religious leaders delivered speeches and paid tributes to Imam Hussain (A.S.) for his martyrdom along with his family members and colleagues in Karbala. They urged people to follow the footsteps of Imam and develop the habit of tolerance for the glory of Islam.

A number of tents were set up at the intersection of Purani Numaish and along the route of the procession on M.A. Jinnah Road where different scouts were present to guide and assist the mourners.

The mourners holding Alam (flags) passed through Empress Market, Regal Chowk, Tibet Centre, Light House, Denso Hall, Boulten Market and reached at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah, Kharadar. At Kharadar, the mourners brought out Tazia and Zuljinah.

According to the spokesman for Edhi Foundation, a total of 20 ambulances were parked along the route of the procession while a mobile dispensary unit was parked at Purani Numaish for provision of medical aid to mourners.

The traffic police had already announced alternate routes for the motorists due to closure of the main artery. However, thousands of motorists and people travelling by public transport still faced severe hardships.

DIG Operations said that 8,000 policemen were from regular force; 2,000 from qaumi razakar; 1,500 police guards were withdrawn from different guard duties and other officials were called from the police training centres and Sindh Reserve Police.

"We have installed 20 surveillance cameras along the route of procession, besides police deployment atop buildings. A helicopter is also being used for aerial surveillance", he added.

Mr Jamil pointed out two localities - Mohajir Chowk in Orangi Town and Bilal Colony in Korangi - which were the most sensitive areas. He said that heavy deployment was also made there.

Talking about the number of processions, the DIG Operations said that 303 big and small processions were taken out from various parts of the city on Muharram 9th (Monday). Out of them, he added, 114 were taken out by Shia community and 189 by Sunni. For Muharram 10th, he said that the permission had been granted for 324 processions - 95 to be taken out by Shia and 229 by Sunni communities.