Country observes Muharram 9 amid tight security arrangements

The country is observing Muharram 9 amid tight security arrangements on Thursday to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). his companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.

State broadcasterPTV Newsreported that 81 processions and 386 religious gatherings were being held in Lahore.

In Peshawar. the central mourning procession was taken out from Imambargah Hussainia Hall at around 10am, while the central procession in Islamabad for the day is planned to be taken out in the afternoon from Markazi Imambargah Asna-e-Ashri.

The main procession in Karachi would depart from Nishtar Park and conclude at Imambargah Hussainia Iranian.

Security arrangements and traffic plans have been made for the day.

State broadcasterPTV Newsreported. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry chaired a meeting today to review security arrangements for Muharram.

It reported that home secretaries. police officials from all provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting, where arrangements for Muharram were comprehensively reviewed and a briefing was given on security arrangements for mourning processions and religious gatherings.

Chaudhry said during the meeting that protecting the lives and properties of citizens was the government’s top priority.

According toPTV News, home secretaries and law enforcement agencies were directed to make security arrangements more effective.

Karachi Traffic Police have devised a plan for alternative routes for commuters as some roads are to remain closed for the 9th. 10th Muharram processions.

According to a press release issued by the Karachi deputy inspector general’s (DIG) office, the city’s M.A. Jinnah Road will be closed to traffic from Gurumandir to Tower. It further said that the road from Jamshed Road to Gurumandir. Bahadur Yar Jang Road will be closed from 10:30am to 1:30pm on Muharram 9.

Traffic police also shared in an X post alternative routes for commuters to reach their destinations.

Separately. Karachi police said in a statement that 20,181 police personnel, including 1,329 from traffic police, had been deployed across the city on Muharram 9.

Among them, 6,843 had been assigned security for the main procession, the statement said, adding that additional police force, reserve force personnel. snipers had also been deployed along the route of the central procession.

Under the security plan for Islamabad, Muharram processions. gatherings are beingmonitored digitallyby drones while geo-tagging of allimambargahs,majalisvenues and procession routes has been completed.

Authorities have also launched a special mobile application. ‘MehfoozMuharram’, using which citizens can report any suspicious activity or individuals or inadequate security arrangements. The app also has live location sharing and image sharing features.

Meanwhile, a central control room has been established at Safe City. a “four-tier security cordon” would be implemented to ensure the protection of Muharram processions and gatherings.

According toPTV News, more than 70,000 personnel have been deployed for security across Punjab on Muharram 9.

It reported. Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Kareem had instructed officials to ensure the implementation of Section 144.

Moreover. the report said, snipers had been deployed on buildings along the processions’ routes while personnel in plain clothes were also providing security to the processions.

Under the security plan for Punjab, over 152,000 police personnel are deployed for security throughout Muharram. the Army and Rangers have also been requisitioned for the purpose.

Last week, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hadissued directivesfor the implementation of a three-tier security plan for Muharram.

She also appealed to the organisers of religious gatherings to immediately download. activate QR-coded panic buttons installed at 4,700 Imambargahs across the province.

The CM was informed during a meeting last week that 47,280 religious gatherings. processions would be held across Punjab during Muharram, including 37,868majalisand 9,412 processions.

The Punjab Safe Cities Authority would carry out live digital monitoring of Muharram processions, the officials informed the CM, adding that 5,623 CCTV cameras had been activated across the province, while 1,040 body cameras. modern drones would be deployed for field surveillance. She was further informed that over 1,000 advanced 4G event cameras had also been installed at highly sensitive locations.

In Peshawar, police chalked out a plan to deploy 12,000 personnel in the city for security during Muharram processions.

A statement by police said that personnel from the city police, rapid response force, quick response force, ladies traffic police. bomb disposal units would be deployed for security in Muharram.

It added that three-layered security would be provided to all mourning processions. while gun points would be set up at high-rise buildings along the procession routes. In addition to this. 1,000 traffic personnel would also be deployed to ensure the smooth flow of traffic across the city.

Similarly, bomb disposal units. sniffer dogs would be deployed to sweep imambargahs, majalis and procession routes, the statement said, adding that personnel in plain clothes had also been deployed at sensitive locations and places of worship across the city.

Last week, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed alsodirectedpolice officials to enhance daily coordination with district administrations. peace committees at the district level to prevent any unpleasant incident during Muharram.

Separately, a statement by police said Muharram processions. religious gatherings on Ashura would be monitored through the Safe City camera network in Peshawar.

It further stated that 43,317 police personnel would be deployed across the province to perform security duties during Muharram. Section 144 had been enforced in various districts of KP.

The statement said that out of 614 imambargahs across the province, 127 had been declared highly sensitive, 262 sensitive. 225 normal and that a total of 907 Muharram processions were expected to be taken out across the province, with 286 being highly sensitive, 190 sensitive and 431 normal.

On Wednesday, the Peshawar Transport Department alsoannouncedsuspension of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on the 9th. 10th of Muharram as part of security measures.

Additional reporting by Manzoor Ali, Kalbe Ali and Imtiaz Ali