RAWALPINDI: The City Traffic Police have prepared a traffic diversion plan for the Chehlum processions of Imam Hussain (A.S.) and other martyrs of Karbala on Tuesday (tomorrow).

According to Chief Security Officer Traffic Inspector Mohammad Waseem, 11 processions will be taken out in Rawalpindi district during which more than 310 officers and personnel of the traffic police will perform their duties.

According to the plan, traffic diversions will be put in place at 12 locations. Liaquat Road (from DAV College Chowk to Fawara Chowk, City Saddar Road (from Mashriq Hotel to Fawara Chowk), Kashmiri Bazar Road (from Novelty Cinema to Fawara Chowk), Ganjmandi Road (from Thana Ganjmandi Turn to Fawara Chowk) and Bagh Sardaran Road (from Toll No 4 to Bansa Nawala Chowk) will be closed for traffic.

Likewise, Bani Chowk (Circular Road, Waris Khan Road, Kohati Bazaar) Iqbal Road (Committee Chowk to Fawara Chowk) Garden College Road (Akbar International to Naya Mohalla), 5th Road (Rehmanabad turn Murree Road to College Chowk Saidpur Road), 4th Road (Punjab Bank roundabout to Kali Tanki Chowk) and Asghar Mall Road (Asghar Mall turn Murree Road to Degree College Chowk) will be closed during the processions.

Traffic will be diverted to alternative routes from the diversion points as additional police personnel have been deployed on the alternative routes to facilitate citizens and keep traffic flowing.

During the procession hours, traffic coming from Liaquat Bagh Chowk to Fawara Chowk will be diverted from DAV College Chowk to the alternative route of Gawalmandi Road.

Traffic coming from City Saddar Road to Fawara Chowk will be diverted from Mashriq Hotel turn to the alternative route of Mohanpura Road. Traffic coming from Dhok Ratta to Fawara Chowk will be diverted from Novelty Cinema turn to the alternative routes of Mohanpura and towards Machli Mandi Road.

Traffic coming from Ganjmandi Road to Fawara Chowk will be diverted from Ganjmandi police station turn to Hamilton Road. Traffic coming from Pirwadhai to Fawara Chowk will be diverted from Chungi No 4 to Asghar Mall Road, while traffic from Circular Road turn, Waris Khan and Kohati Bazaar to Bani Chowk will be diverted to the alternative route of Murree Road.

Similarly, traffic from Committee Chowk via Iqbal Road to Fawara Chowk will be diverted from the main Murree Road. Vehicles coming from Liaquat Road via China Market, College Road will be diverted to an alternative route from Akbar International turn to Liaquat Road.

Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Farhan Aslam directed all circle DSPs and in-charges to ensure the traffic diversion plan in collaboration with the district police.

He also appealed to the citizens to follow the traffic plan to avoid any kind of trouble and avoid unnecessary travel on Murree Road.

Security alert for G-6/2 procession

Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the Alam Tazia and Zuljinnah procession which will be taken out from Markazi Imambargah Asna-i-Ashri G-6/2 Islamabad and culminate at the same place after passing through its designated route.

More than 1748 law enforcement personnel, including 124 Pakistan Rangers, will be deployed to ensure security of the procession which has been categorised as “A” (highly sensitive).

According to the security plan, police will be deployed in the first tier while Rangers will be in the second tier of security.

The police will be carrying handcuffs, anti-riot equipment, APCs, prison vans, water cannons, tear gas, tear gas guns and rubber bullets.

The procession will be covered by ropes with the help of volunteers, while entry will be from one side.

Physical search by metal detectors and walk-through gates will be conducted and on the route of procession traffic will blocked.

No ambulance will enter the route of procession without permission of the supervisory officer, while petrol pumps falling on the route will be closed.

Under the security plan, display of weapons will not be allowed except security forces, while good behaviour bonds of residents of flats and houses falling on the route of the procession will be obtained and sent to the Security Branch.It must be ensured that routes and timing of the procession/majlis are strictly followed. One upper subordinate with Rangers shall be deployed by concerned police station for better coordination.

Moreover, mounted police shall be deployed with the procession by the concerned supervisory officer.

Attock

The Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) was observed across Attock on Sunday with religious reverence, solemn mourning and elaborate security arrangements.

Thousands of mourners participated peacefully in the central Alam and Zuljinah procession.

The main procession commenced from Imambargah Panjtani and passed through its traditional route under tight security before culminating peacefully in the evening at Imambargah Hussainia, Kamalpur Syedan, Attock Cantonment.

Addressing the central Chehlum majlis at Imambargah Panjtani, religious scholar Maulana Mohammad Abbas Rizvi described the tragedy of Karbala as an eternal beacon of truth, sacrifice and steadfastness.

He said the unparalleled sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain and his devoted companions conveyed a timeless message to humanity to uphold justice, righteousness and unwavering faith in the face of tyranny.

Recounting the events leading to the tragedy of Karbala, he urged the faithful to draw inspiration from the sacrifices made for the preservation of the true spirit of Islam.

Following the majlis, mourners participated in Zanjeerzani and Matam to pay tribute to the martyrs of Karbala. Along the procession route, volunteers established sabeels offering water, milk and food for participants under the supervision of security personnel. The Zuhrain prayers were offered near Fowara Chowk before the procession resumed and concluded peacefully.

The district administration and law enforcement agencies implemented security and administrative arrangements to ensure the peaceful observance of the occasion. The entire procession route was secured with barbed-wire barricades, while police personnel were deployed at sensitive points, rooftops and along the route to maintain constant vigilance.

A special mobile medical team from Shaheed Asfandyar District Headquarters Hospital Attock, along with Rescue 1122 personnel, remained on high alert throughout the procession.

— Amjad Iqbal from Taxila also contributed to this story

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026