Ashura observed nationwide amid tight security, calls for unity and tolerance

Greater than 12,000 law enforcement officials and personnel have been deployed throughout Rawalpindi and Islamabad as Ashura processions obtained underway on Friday, with intensive safety measures together with snipers on high-rise buildings, drones, a customized CNIC scanning app, and an entire suspension of cellular and web companies in Rawalpindi.

Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi’s central procession emerged from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain, Teli Mohalla, the place greater than 8,000 law enforcement officials and personnel have been on obligation. Of those, greater than 5,500 have been assigned to the central procession alone, with greater than 1,200 site visitors law enforcement officials additionally performing duties. Greater than 1,000 volunteers assisted with safety.

All routes resulting in the mourning processions have been sealed, with the town being monitored by way of greater than 2,000 Secure Metropolis and different cameras and steady oversight from the Secure Metropolis and Central Management Room. Snipers have been deployed on high-rise buildings, and monitoring was additionally being carried out by way of drones. Procession members have been solely allowed entry after physique searches, with woman police personnel conducting checks on girls. Steel detectors and walk-through gates have been additionally in place.

Learn: President, PM renew name for fact, justice on Ashura

Rawalpindi Police developed a particular identification and scanning app which may scan any particular person’s CNIC immediately. Safety personnel used the app at entry pickets and bus terminals, verifying processioners’ identities.

Rawalpindi administration imposed a ban on pillion using whereas cell phone and web companies stay utterly suspended. Standing on rooftops and at home windows alongside procession routes was prohibited, as was protecting stones or bricks on rooftops or bringing matches, cigarettes, lighters, or weapons into the processions.

Emergency was declared at hospitals, with 350 closed-circuit cameras put in and a management room established, with Governor Saleem Haider, the commissioner, RPO, CPO, and deputy commissioner conducting visits.

“Full implementation of the code of conduct and SOPs issued by the Punjab authorities will likely be ensured,” mentioned the CPO.

The primary procession emerged from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain in Teli Mohalla, the second from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool, the third from Imambargah Hifazat Ali Shah, the fourth from Imambargah Shohda-e-Karbala in Tyre Bazaar, the fifth from Imambargah Darbar Shah Chan Chiragh Badshah, and the sixth from Imambargah Baltistania. All processions have been to converge at Purana Qila Urdu Bazaar Chowk, with members providing Zuhr and Asr prayers at Fawara Chowk, whereas Maghrib and Isha prayers are to be supplied on Jamia Masjid Highway.

Learn Extra: ninth Muharram processions conclude throughout nation amid tight safety

The central procession will go by way of its designated routes and conclude late at evening. On the request of the administration, police will obtain help from the Rangers, whereas Pakistan Military troops will stay on name.

Murree

In Murree, the central Ashura procession was to emerge on Mall Highway, which has been utterly closed to all site visitors and the route cleared, mentioned DPO Dr Muhammad Raza Tanveer. Vacationers coming into Murree should have a confirmed lodge reserving, whereas locals will solely be allowed entry upon presenting their CNIC. Motion in any respect areas in Murree besides Mall Highway will stay unrestricted, with further police personnel deployed on different routes to maintain site visitors flowing. The DPO urged folks to obtain the “Secure Tourism Murree” app for real-time site visitors and safety updates.

Islamabad

In Islamabad, greater than 4,000 law enforcement officials and personnel have been deployed throughout Imambargahs, procession routes, spiritual gatherings, and mosques for Friday prayers.

Inspector Common (IG) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi personally supervised all Ashura safety preparations, with DIG Secure Metropolis/Visitors Haroon Joiya, DIG Muhammad Jawad Tariq, DIG Safety Rana Umar Farooq, and different senior officers conducting area visits to Imambargahs and procession routes.

IG Rizvi acknowledged, “All officers and personnel ought to carry out their duties throughout Muharram with full honesty, dedication, and a spirit of service,” reaffirming that Islamabad Police “stays dedicated to making sure the security of mourners and sustaining legislation and order on Ashura.”

Additionally Learn: ‘Hussainiyat – an emblem of ethical integrity’

In keeping with Islamabad police, the procession “will start from Imambargah Musa Kazim and proceed by way of Khayaban-e-Sir Syed earlier than concluding again at Imambargah Musa Kazim.”

On account of this, the police famous that site visitors will likely be diverted from numerous roads, saying different routes. “Residents are requested to make use of different routes in the course of the procession,” the police mentioned, including that these collaborating within the procession “ought to park their autos and bikes within the designated parking areas.”

In the meantime, Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, in a message on the event of Ashura, termed the day an “everlasting image of fact, righteousness, endurance, sacrifice, and standing agency towards oppression.” He added, “The tragedy of Karbala highlights the clear distinction between fact and falsehood in each period.”

Saying that Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions made nice sacrifices in Karbala “to safeguard the faith of Islam, human dignity, and the rules of justice and equity,” the chairman mentioned that the event “conveys the message of selling unity, tolerance, brotherhood, and nationwide solidarity.” He known as on the nation to undertake in its character and collective behaviour the noble values for which the Ahl-e-Bait (RA) supplied everlasting sacrifices.

Peshawar

Greater than 10,000 safety personnel have been deployed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (Okay-P’s) capital, Peshawar, as 12 Ashura processions obtained underway throughout the town, mentioned Capital Metropolis Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed.

He added that internal metropolis was utterly sealed and cell phone companies partially suspended, with monitoring carried out by way of drones, Secure Metropolis cameras, and 171 CCTV cameras. An anti-drone system was additionally put in, whereas three command posts have been established and police checkpoints arrange on the metropolis’s entry factors.

The CCPO famous that the Pakistan Military and different safety businesses have been working alongside Okay-P police to make sure order and security amid the processions. “We hope that Ashura will go peacefully throughout the nation at this time,” he mentioned.

The primary procession emerged from Syed Ali Shah Rizvi Imambargah, passing by way of its conventional routes earlier than concluding at Agha Mustafa Shah Imambargah.

Additional, Rescue 1122 deployed particular medical groups in case of any emergency, whereas water and refreshment stalls have been arrange at numerous areas alongside the procession routes.

Okay-P Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, in a particular message on the event, mentioned that “Karbala is just not merely an occasion, however the title of humanity’s everlasting victory within the battle between fact and falsehood.”

He mentioned the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) “shook the halls of oppression and made the supremacy of fact everlasting,” including that “standing united towards oppression, tyranny, fascism, and injustice is the necessity of the hour.”

Additional, CM Afridi mentioned “We should undertake the message of Karbala to strengthen Pakistan, promote nationwide unity, and uphold Islamic values.”

In the meantime, Provincial Info Minister Shafi Jan termed the tragedy of Karbala “an everlasting saga of endurance, steadfastness, selflessness, sacrifice, and standing agency for the sake of fact, which is able to function a guiding torch for all humanity till the top of time.”

The minister paid tribute to Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions, stating that “their nice sacrifice for the supremacy of fact and towards falsehood, oppression, and tyranny is an unparalleled chapter within the historical past of humanity.”

Jan “emphasised the necessity to promote nationwide unity, inter-sect concord, and brotherhood,” interesting to “revered students, elders, and other people from all colleges of thought to play their full function in fostering peace, tolerance, and mutual respect in order that an environment of peace and safety will be maintained within the province.”

Awami Nationwide Occasion (ANP) Central President Senator Aimal Wali Khan, in his message, mentioned the nice sacrifices of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions stay “a shining image of resistance towards tyranny.”

He famous that Okay-P stays within the grip of terrorism, insecurity, and bloodshed, with harmless residents, safety personnel, political employees, spiritual students, and younger folks persevering with to be focused. He known as for a “clear, severe, and constant technique” to get rid of terrorism, and mentioned all colleges of thought ought to play their function in selling spiritual concord, mutual respect, unity, and tolerance.

“Lasting peace is established not by way of the gun, however by way of justice, the supremacy of the Structure, and the rights of the folks,” he mentioned.

Kohat

The Ashura mourning procession in Kohat emerged from Bannu Bazaar, passing by way of its conventional routes to succeed in Milad Chowk, the place it’ll converge with processions from Qaumi Imambargah and Syed Habib Imambargah.

Greater than 2,100 police personnel have been deployed within the metropolis, procession routes have been sealed, and cell phone companies have been suspended throughout the district.

Karachi

On the directions of Further IG Karachi Azad Khan, 6,843 law enforcement officials and personnel have been deployed for the safety of the central procession within the metropolis, together with 1,016 site visitors police personnel and 157 woman police personnel.

To observe the central procession and guarantee efficient response in case of any unforseen scenario, a complete of 182 police autos, together with cellular models, APCs, bikes, and different official autos, have been deployed at numerous areas throughout the provincial capital.

Additional, particular preparations alongside the procession routes included snipers, a reserve pressure, plainclothes personnel, the Bomb Disposal Squad, search and sweep operations, snap checking, and site visitors administration.

Steady monitoring was additionally being carried out by way of CCTV cameras from the Command and Management Centre to make sure any emergency scenario could also be handled in a well timed method.

Mourners supplied prayers throughout the procession routes, together with at Tibet Centre in Saddar.