KARACHI, March 15: The traditional Ashura procession was taken out on Friday from Nishter Park which terminated at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.

Participants burnt Israeli, American and British flags and raised slogans in support of Iraq near Tibet Centre. One of the slogans was Jo America ka yaar hai woh ghaddar hai.

Mourners had gathered at Nishter Park where religious scholars delivered sermons. Mourners came out later in the form of a procession. At the Purani Numaish roundabout smaller processions from various parts of the city joined the main procession.

Religious leaders delivered speeches in which they paid tribute to Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions for laying down their lives at Karbala for the glory of Islam. They urged the people to follow in the footsteps of Imam Hussain and to work harder for the glory of Islam.

Heavy contingents of the police and other law-enforcement agencies were deployed along the procession route to maintain peace. Scouts organizations had set up camps to guide and help the mourners.

The procession passed through Empress Market, Regal Chowk, Tibet Centre, Lighthouse, Denso Hall and Boulton Market. Mourners were carrying Alam, Tazia and Zuljinah.

A spokesman for the Edhi Foundation said it had deployed its volunteers and ambulances at 50 localities and Imambargahs where Majlis-i-Aza were held.

The city administration and the traffic police had closed M. A. Jinnah Road to traffic because of the morning procession.

The traffic police had announced alternative routes for motorists.

The traffic police had closed Jamshed Road also from Tin Hatti and traffic was diverted towards Jail Road or Nishter Road. The closure of Jehangir Road caused traffic jams on S. M. Taufiq Road in Liaquatabad.

Traffic was diverted towards Garden from Lasbella as it was not allowed to proceed to the Guru Mandir roundabout. As a result, traffic on Nishter Road moved at a snail’s pace since morning.