ATTOCK, Jan 7: Processions of Alam and Zuljinnah on the 9th of Muharram were taken out throughout the district, including Hassanabdal, Wah and Taxila on Wednesday.
Zakireen and mourners in their speeches recalled the supreme sacrifice rendered by Imam Hussain and his companions in Karbarla, Iraq and stressed the need for harmony and unity among different schools of thought while following the teachings of the martyrs of Karbala.
The main procession of Alam and Zuljinnah was taken out from Imambargah Sheenbagh village in Attock city, which was participated, by a large number of mourners.
The Azadars recited Nohas, performed Zanjeerzani and beating their chests. Sabeels of drinks and food-stalls were set up at different points to facilitate the mourners.
Zakireen in their speeches highlighted the sacrifices rendered by Imam Hussain and his companions in Karbala for upholding righteousness and truth.
The procession ended peacefully after passing through its traditional routes. A special mobile medical unit remained with the procession to provide medical treatment to the mourners.
The law-enforcement agencies had made strict security arrangements for maintaining peace and order. Roads leading to the routes of the processions were heavily guarded, which were barbed with iron wires and manned by police and elite force personnel. They were also deployed on rooftops to remain vigil and handle any untoward situation.
Senior police officers, civil administration and intelligence agencies monitored the overall security measures from the control room set up at the district headquarters besides visiting Imambargahs and venues of the processions.
ASHURA: About 70 scheduled processions, out of 116 had passed peacefully throughout the district since the start of Muharram. Now the remaining 46 processions would be taken out on Ashura (Thursday). Major procession will be taken out form Imambargah Kamalpur Syedan, Attock cantonment, in morning that will end at Markazi Karbala in the evening.
ATTOCK SEALED: The district has been sealed by the law enforcement agencies to ensure peace and avoid any act of terrorism on Ashura, police sources said.
All existing and entry points of the district have been sealed. Police and elite force personnel have been deployed at checkpoints, they said.
Security personnel are conducting strict checking of suspicious persons and vehicles. Moreover, all roads connecting NWFP and Punjab particularly at Attock bridge on GT Road, Jarikus on Hazar road and Khushalgarh bridge on Kohat-Pindi road have been kept under special surveillance, they added.
About 30 points of the district have been declared sensitive, where two army contingents have already been deputed to assist the district administration and other law-enforcement agencies in maintaining peace on Ashura. Besides the troops, over 3,000 police and elite force personnel have been deployed.
Our correspondent from Taxila adds: Like other parts of the country, Ashura will be observed in Taxila, Wah Cantonment and Hassanabdal with traditional reverence and solemnity.
In the wake of terrorist attacks at D.I. Khan, police and law enforcement agencies have taken strict security measures for the processions of Zuljinnah, which will pass through the traditional routs.
Police sources told this reporter on Wednesday that due to looming threat of terrorist acts in the country, the law enforcement agencies have prepared a foolproof security plan for Ashura.
Sources said that the ‘Tazias’ (replicas of sacred shrines) would also be thoroughly checked before handing them over to the mourners.