ISLAMABAD: In a message to the nation on the occasion of Ashura, the day of martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the event was reminiscent of the immense sacrifices rendered by the martyrs of Karbala in order to uphold the spirit of Islam.

Paying homage to the martyrs, the premier said that Hazrat Imam Hussain’s sacrifice showed that truth was always victorious, adding that people should learn from his example.

Prime Minister Sharif said staunch faith in Allah and strong willpower would undermine the enemies of Islam. “In order to make Pakistan a prosperous Islamic welfare state, we should remain determined and follow the right path,” said a statement issued from the premier’s office.

President’s message

President Mamnoon Hussain also underscored the importance of Ashura and said that the occasion reminds us of the great sacrifices rendered by the martyrs of Karbala.

The prophet’s family, he said, laid their lives for the sake of Islam and for future generations. “The martyrdom of Imam Hussain teaches us the triumph of truth over falsehood”.

Unprecedented security

Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in cities and towns across the country, particularly in the four provincial capitals and Islamabad, to ward off any untoward incident during the observance of Ashura today.

Army, police and paramilitary personnel have been placed on high alert and deployed at sensitive places, particularly in Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Hangu, Gilgit, Jhang, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar and other cities and towns of southern Punjab.

The arrangements appear to be stricter this year because of threats posed by militants in the wake of killing of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone attack in North Waziristan and a member of Taliban’s Haqqani group, Nasiruddin, in Islamabad.