LAHORE: ASHURA, the 10th of Muharram, was observed with traditional religious solemnity and devotion, amidst strict security measures on Tuesday to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala in 61AH some 14 centuries ago.
In Lahore, the security arrangements could be called historic arrangements to maintain security and peace amidst intelligence reports of possible terrorist strikes in view of the ongoing wave of terrorism.
Luckily, the central Zuljanah procession and others remained peaceful despite some fears that gripped the mourners and administrators due to some incidents in Karachi.
The district administration managed security by taking some new measures, the most effective of them was closing down both sides of the procession route and only allowing the mourners to enter after having their ID cards checked. These measures were in addition to the traditional security arrangements.
Army helicopters kept monitoring the procession while the special police squad moved ahead of the procession, kept checking and clearing the route before allowing it to proceed further. This procedure delayed the procession for about three to four hours behind the time initially scheduled for it to reach its destination, Karbala Gamay Shah.
Various Zuljanah, Alam and Tazia processions were taken out from different parts of the City which marched from their traditional routes before joining the central Zuljanah procession.
All markets and businesses were closed while the press issued special supplements and electronic media aired special programmes to mark the significance of the event.
The central Zuljanah procession which emerged from Nisar Haveli inside Mochi Gate on Monday night passed through its traditional route and culminated at Karbala Gamay Shah near Data Darbar on Tuesday evening. Prior to that, the procession was behind its schedule because of tight security as it was stopped for security checks at several places, causing delay.
The procession passed through its route, including Mohallah Chehel Bibian Imambargah Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Lakkar Mandi, Imambargah Mehdi Shah, Mobarak Haveli, Chowk Nawab Sahab, Kuch Qazi Khan, Imambargah Molvi Feroze Ali, Kucha Miskinan, Mohallah Pir Gilanian, Imambargah Rajab Ali Shah, Chohata Mufti Baqar, Chowk Purani Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazaar, Sunehri Masjid, Dabbi Bazaar, Suha Bazaar, Gumti Bazaar, Said Mitha Bazaar, Tehsil Bazaar, Bazaar Hakiman, Unchi Masjid and Bhaati chowk.
In their tough security measures, the authorities deployed over 20,000 personnel belonging to different branches of law enforcing agencies, including Rangers and FC, to monitor and guard all the sensitive areas particularly the routes of the Zuljanah procession.
Policemen were deployed all along the route of main Zuljanah procession and were also taking positions at the rooftops of the buildings along both sides to monitor the procession.
Police had closed the route of the main Zuljanah procession from both sides with barbed wires and subjected everybody to thorough body search with metal detectors before allowing them to join the procession. Besides, special gates for scanning explosives and weapons were also placed at different entry points.
Apart from that Army and police helicopters kept taking rounds of the City skies to monitor the situation.
Rangers vehicles kept patrolling the City streets. The residents of the buildings along the route were barred from opening their windows and coming to roofs but women and children were allowed to watch the procession through windows.
A large number of flagellants and Noah reciting mourners participated in the procession and they also held Matam with chained knives at several points on the route.
A number of Sabeels of juices, milk and cool water were set up mostly by Sunnis along the route for the mourners.
After the culmination of the procession, Majlis-e-Sham-e-Ghariban was held inside Karbala Gamay Shah in which Zakireen highlighted the importance of the sacrifice by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS).
(The News)
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