Processions commemorating the 9th of Muharram are being held in several towns in Pakistan, with stringent security measures implemented to safeguard the participants.
Lahore
The primary march in Lahore began at Pando Street in Islampura and will proceed to Khaima-e-Sadaat before returning to Pando Street. As per the police, there are a total of 79 mourning processions occurring throughout the city on Tuesday.
The Lahore police have mobilized more than 11,000 men to ensure the safety of the processions and have blocked off the procession route to regular traffic.
Islamabad
The major procession in Islamabad will depart from G-6 Imambargah and follow traditional routes to reach its destination. The authorities have enforced stringent security measures, such as obstructing streets and roads along the procession route with containers and barbed wire.
Mobile phone services have been temporarily halted in various regions to bolster security measures.
The Islamabad police chief, while addressing the media outside the G-6 Imambargah, stated that a total of 2,137 policemen were deployed within the security perimeter. In addition, security personnel have been stationed on nearby roadways, and a three-tier security system has been established for the Muharram parade.
According to him, on this occasion, the sectors were under the supervision of deputy inspectors general. The search of houses and business buildings was conducted in a comprehensive manner, while the Bomb Disposal Squad inspected the routes of the procession.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) stated that the Army has positioned troops in a state of readiness, while all emergency services were on a heightened state of vigilance. The police troops have been allocated specific responsibilities at sabeels and checkpoints, as he clarified.
Additionally, he stated that the interior minister has personally inspected the procession route and is directly overseeing all the activities.
Karachi
The 9th Muharram procession in Karachi will commence at noon from Nishtar Park. The security measures for the parade have been finalised, with a deployment of over 4,200 police troops, supplemented by Rangers, to ensure security. Snipers are positioned on tall buildings, markets along the parade routes have been closed down, and 120 streets have been obstructed with containers.
There is currently a prohibition on riding with a passenger on a motorcycle, and the use of mobile phone services along the paths of the procession is still unavailable. The parade will end in Hussainia Iranian.
Quetta
The 9th Muharram procession in Quetta will commence at 2pm from Imambargah Nasirulaza, following its customary circuits and returning to the same site. Impeccable security measures have been put in place, and cellular communication in the city has been halted to avert any undesirable occurrences.
Bahawalpur
For the 9th of Muharram, there are 30 processions and 77 majalis scheduled in Bahawalpur. The district has implemented stringent security measures by deploying a total of 3,200 security professionals and enlisting the support of 1,600 volunteers.
The Dolphin Squad, Eagle Squad, Elite Force, and Special Branch are currently engaged in their respective duties. Barbed wire and walk-through gates have been implemented at the entrances of the procession, and CCTV cameras have been positioned along specific routes to observe the events.
Dera Ismail Khan
The primary procession of the 9th of Muharram has started from the historic Imambargah of Bammu Shah. The procession is anticipated to follow customary pathways and conclude at Imam Imambargah Lato Faqir. Impeccable security measures have been put in place along the procession routes, and the mobile phone service has been temporarily halted.
