Youm-e-Ashur, the 10th of Muharram, is being observed across Pakistan today with deep reverence to pay tribute to the unparalleled sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala.
Mourning gatherings and processions are being held in cities and towns nationwide, while strict security arrangements have been made to ensure peace during Ashura observances.
The day marks the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his companions at the hands of the Yazidi army in Karbala.
The tragedy of Karbala, which took place more than 1,400 years ago, is remembered as a timeless symbol of the struggle between truth and falsehood, and of standing firm against oppression and tyranny.
Religious scholars and speakers are delivering sermons on the life, teachings, patience and steadfastness of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), while highlighting the message and lessons of Karbala.
Arrangements for Niyaz and Sabeels have also been made across the country in memory of the hunger, thirst and sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions during the days of Karbala.
Main Ashura procession in Karachi
In Karachi, the main Ashura procession has been taken out after the mourning gathering at Nishtar Park. The central procession departed from Nishtar Park at around 9:30am and will conclude at Imambargah Hussainia Iranian in Kharadar after passing through its traditional routes.
Karachi police chief Azad Khan said mobile phone and internet services were likely to be suspended along the route of the main procession. He said around 6,500 policemen would be deployed for the main procession, while overall security deployment across the city would stand at 20,000 personnel.
Traffic police said MA Jinnah Road would remain closed to traffic from Gurumandir to Tower due to security reasons, and commuters have been advised to use alternative routes.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah joined a mourning procession and said that 60,000 police and Rangers personnel had been deployed for the security of processions across Sindh, where more than 1,600 processions are taken out during Muharram.
Lahore procession heads towards Karbala Gamay Shah
In Lahore, the central Ashura procession emerged from Nisar Haveli inside Mochi Gate and is proceeding along its traditional routes towards Karbala Gamay Shah.
Thousands of mourners, including men, women and children, are participating in the procession, which will conclude after reaching Karbala Gamay Shah today. Sabeels and niaz have also been arranged for mourners along the procession routes.
Processions in major cities
Ashura processions are also being taken out in Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gilgit, Skardu, Muzaffarabad and other cities.
In Multan, the main Ashura procession started from Imambargah Heera Haidaria and will end at Imambargah Shah Shams Tabrez after Maghrib prayers.
In Faisalabad, the main 10th Muharram procession started from Azakhana Shabbir, while hundreds of majalis and processions are being held across the district.
In Quetta, the main Ashura procession started from Shuhada Chowk on Alamdar Road and will return to Alamdar Road after passing through designated routes.
Rawalpindi under strict security
In Rawalpindi, the main Ashura procession was planned from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain in Teli Mohallah and will culminate at Imambargah Qadeemi.
Another main procession is also being taken out from Imambargah Hifazat Ali Shah in Teli Mohalla, with the procession route sealed and a separate route allocated for participants’ entry.
Security arrangements include the deployment of five Army companies, seven Rangers companies and thousands of police personnel.
On the recommendation of intelligence agencies, the Punjab government suspended the Metro Bus Service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, as the mourning procession was to pass along Murree Road from Bhabra Bazaar to Committee Chowk beneath the metro track.
Two video monitoring control rooms have been set up at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority and Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation to monitor processions, majalis and sensitive locations.
Section 144 has also been imposed in Rawalpindi district. Police said more than 8,000 personnel would perform security duties during Muharram, including 5,500 deployed for the main Ashura procession.
Roads and streets along procession routes have been sealed, snipers have been deployed on rooftops, and participants are being searched before entering processions.
More than 2,000 Safe City and other CCTV cameras are monitoring Rawalpindi, while special pickets have been established at entry and exit points of the city.
Police have also developed a mobile application for the identification and scanning of identity cards at pickets and bus terminals. A total of 475 processions and 2,201 majalis are scheduled across Rawalpindi district during Muharram.
Punjab implements three-tier security plan
In Punjab, medical and emergency services, including Rescue 1122, Civil Defence personnel, mobile health units, field hospitals and volunteers, have been deployed to assist mourners.
Sanitation workers have also been assigned to maintain cleanliness along procession routes and around religious sites.
A three-tier security plan has been implemented across the province, with more than 125,000 police personnel deployed.
Authorities have also requisitioned 61 companies of the Pakistan Army and 76 companies of Rangers to support security arrangements. More than 30,000 trained volunteers are assisting law-enforcement agencies.
Modern surveillance technologies, including artificial intelligence-based monitoring systems, CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and geo-tagged video monitoring, are being used.
The Provincial Intelligence Centre is conducting round-the-clock monitoring of processions and majalis through a digital surveillance wall.
More than 5,600 CCTV cameras are operational for Muharram monitoring, while over 1,000 4G event cameras have been installed at sensitive locations.
Peshawar and KP security arrangements
In Peshawar, 12 processions are planned for Ashura. The first procession departed from Imambargah Agha Syed Ali Shah near Meena Bazaar at around 11am, while the remaining processions are scheduled to leave from different locations between 12pm and 3pm.
Police had chalked out a plan to deploy 12,000 personnel in Peshawar for Muharram security.
Personnel from city police, rapid response force, quick response force, ladies traffic police and bomb disposal units are being deployed.
Three-layered security is being provided to all mourning processions, while marksmen have been stationed on high-rise buildings along procession routes. Around 1,000 traffic personnel are also deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow across the city.
Bomb disposal units and sniffer dogs are being used to sweep imambargahs, majalis and procession routes, while personnel in plain clothes have also been deployed at sensitive locations and places of worship.
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KP IGP Zulfiqar Hameed earlier directed police officials to enhance daily coordination with district administrations and peace committees to prevent any unpleasant incident during Muharram.
Ashura processions and religious gatherings in Peshawar are being monitored through the Safe City camera network.
Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 43,317 police personnel have been deployed for Muharram security, while Section 144 has been enforced in various districts. Out of 614 imambargahs in the province, 127 have been declared highly sensitive, 262 sensitive and 225 normal.
A total of 907 Muharram processions are expected across KP, including 286 highly sensitive, 190 sensitive and 431 normal processions.
Balochistan deploys over 32,000 security personnel
The Balochistan government has finalised strict security arrangements for Muharram 10, deploying more than 32,000 security personnel for the safety of Ashura processions.
Main procession routes are being monitored through aerial surveillance and a comprehensive CCTV camera network. All shops, markets, plazas and commercial centres along procession routes have been sealed.
More than 17,000 personnel have been deployed in Quetta alone to secure the main procession routes, key public spaces and all entry and exit points of the city.
The deployment includes District Police, Balochistan Constabulary, Rapid Response Force, Anti-Terrorist Force, Frontier Corps and Anti-Riot Force personnel.
As part of the security protocol, mobile phone services and internet connectivity have been suspended in Quetta and other sensitive areas of Balochistan during the processions.
