PESHAWAR: Ashura was observed peacefully across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday amid tight security.

Police said over 1,100 security personnel were deployed across the provincial capital.

Over a dozen Zuljinnah and Alam processions were taken out from different imambarghas in the provincial metropolis, which concluded peacefully after passing through their designated routes.

Majalis were held in the evening.

Special arrangements had been made to facilitate the participants of the mourning processions. Volunteers had set up free medical camps and provided water and food to the people.

Religious scholars urged to play role in maintaining sectarian harmony

Besides, the traders and the general public also contributed their share in maintenance of peace and kept their shops closed as per instructions of the local police.

Emergency measures were enforced in hospitals, rescue services, and TMAs to respond to any unforeseen situations. Control rooms were established to ensure real-time monitoring of all events. CCTV cameras had been installed at prominent places to check movement of people.

During their speeches, the religious scholars highlighted the incident of Karbala as the greatest example of truth, and resistance. They said the tragedy of Karbala taught them patience and the importance of standing firm for truth and justice.

The speakers appealed to the public, especially religious scholars, to play their role in maintaining inter-sectarian harmony.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also visited the Supreme Command Post at Kohati Gate on Saturday to review security arrangements for the 10th of Muharram.

Officials briefed him on a wide range of preparations, including security measures, sanitation at procession and gathering venues, and ensuring an uninterrupted power supply.

The chief minister was informed that the Supreme Command Post served as the central control room, operating round-the-clock since the first of Muharram. It is designed to ensure effective coordination, real-time monitoring, and prompt response among all relevant departments and agencies for Muharram security.

Personnel from the police, rescue services, Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies, and other departments had been deployed at the command post.

Additionally, five sub-command posts had been established across Peshawar to further enhance security operations.

The officials said about 116 processions had emerged from different imambargas with over 300 Majlis held in various localities of Peshawar.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the main procession of Ashura emerged from Imambargah Bammun Shah, while about 16 small and big processions were taken out from other parts of the city. The processions passed through their traditional routes and culminated at Kotli Imam Hussain.

Langar and Niaz (meals) and Sabeel-i-Hussain (water distribution) were also arranged at different points on the way of the processions.

The district had been divided into five zones and nine sectors with deployment of as many as 9,000 police personnel to maintain peace.

Mobile service remained suspended in all parts of the district as part of security measures.

In the neighbouring Tank district, strict security measures had also been adopted to prevent any untoward incident during the Ashura processions.

The 10th Muharram processions in Kurram district ended peacefully under the protection of 2,500 personnel of Frontier Corps, the army, and police.

Processions were also taken out in Hangu and Orakzai.

In Hangu, three processions came out from the city and seven from Juzara Circle.

In Orakzai, the main procession was taken out from Kalaya and nine smaller ones from other parts, regional police officer Abbas Majeed Marwat said.

In Kohat, the major procession was taken out from Rizwia Imambargah in the city.

Ashura was also observed with religious zeal across the upper parts of the Hazara division.

Mourners took out a procession from Imambargah Hussania in Muftiabad area of Mansehra to mark the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions.

Mansehra district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur led a comprehensive security operation across the district to ensure peaceful observance of the day.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025