News
Yaum-e-Ashur being observed today with solemnity
KARACHI: Yaum-e-Ashur‚ the 10th of Muharram-ul-Haram, will be observed today (Sunday) with due solemnity to commemorate the great sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala for the supremacy of Islam and to uphold the truth.
Mourning processions will be taken out in all cities and small towns throughout the country.
Major processions were taken out from Imambargahs at midnight on Saturday which will terminate at their respective destinations in the evening today.
Special security arrangements have been put in place in the country to avoid any untoward incident.
In Multan‚ the main processions of Ustad wala will be taken from Khooni Burj and Shagirdwala from mohallah Jhik in the walled city. The other main processions would be taken out from Imambarghs Shah Shams‚ Shah Yousaf Gardez‚ Doulat Gate‚ Chowk Qaddafi‚ Suraj Miani and Cantt.
In Hafizabad‚ thirty-four Zuljinah and Taazia processions will be taken out in the district. In Abbottabad city‚ Alam and Zuljinah processions will be taken out from Markazi Imambargah Tanchi Chowk.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir various Taazia‚ Alam and Zuljinnah processions will be taken out from different Imambargahs.
In Muzaffarabad‚ the biggest procession will be taken out from Markazi Imambargah Pir Ilam Shah Bokhari.
In Gilgit‚ the main procession will be taken out from Markazi Mosque.
Extraordinary security arrangements have been put in place to avoid any untoward incident in Gilgit.
Heavy contingents of police and para-military Rangers are deployed in cities and towns all across the country while Army has been called in many cities.
The Army has been put on high alert at all the major cities while army contingents would be deployed on 9th and 10th of Muharram in Hangu, Kurram Agency, Gilgit and various cities of Punjab.
Shops along the routes of the processions have already been sealed while a passage would be kept open for joining the processions, and anyone would only be allowed to join the processions after going through frisking and passing through walk-through gates.
INP adds from Bannu: The local administration has imposed curfew in Bannu city to maintain security during Ashura.
The curfew was imposed after a suicide bomber on Saturday attacked a procession in Dera Ismail Khan town, killing eight people, four children among them.
PPI adds: In Rawalpindi, the main procession would be taken out from Imambargah Col Maqbool Hussain in the morning which after passing through its traditional route, will terminate at Imambargah Qadeemi at Banni late in the night.
APP adds: More than 5,000 personnel of police and Balochistan Constabulary and 21 platoons of Frontier Corps have been deployed in and around the city to avert any untoward incident. The 61 Brigade of the Pak Army has also been kept standby to assist the civil administration in case of any emergency situation.
Asim Hussain adds from Lahore: Despite recent violent incidents in Karachi, DI Khan and other parts of the country, the faithful in Lahore were fully prepared to keep up the traditional religious devotion on Ashura to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala.
On Saturday, the 9th of Muharram, mourning activities reached their peak as various Zuljinnah, Alam and Tazia processions were taken out in different parts of the provincial metropolis including Islampura, Zafar Colony, Wasanpura, Shadman, Green Town, Mughalpura and Ferozepur Road. The processions marched through traditional routes before culminating at designated places peacefully.
The central Zuljinnah procession of Ashura emerged from Nisar Haveli inside Mochi Gate late Saturday night amidst strict security and began its daylong journey through its traditional route. Accompanied by hundreds of mourners the procession will culminate at Karbala Gamay Shah near Data Darbar after Sunday evening.
The procession will move through its route and pass from Mohallah Chehel Bibian, Imambargah Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Lakkar Mandi, Imambargah Mehdi Shah, Mobarak Haveli, Chowk Nawab Sahab, Kucha Qazi Khan, Imambargah Molvi Feroze Ali, Kucha Miskinan, Mohallah Pir Gilanian, Imambargah Rajab Ali Shah, Chohata Mufti Baqar, Chowk Purani Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazar, Sunehri Masjid, Dabbi Bazar, Suha Bazar, Gumti Bazar, Said Mitha Bazar, Tehsil Bazar, Bazar Hakiman, Unchi Masjid and Bhaati chowk.
Before the start of the procession a Majlis-e-Aza was held in which masaaibs were narrated by renowned Zakir Shajar Hussain Shajar.
The majlis was preceded by recitations by various Noha Khwans who paid tribute to the martyrs of Karbala. A large number of chest beating and Noha reciting mourners participated in the majlis and later joined the procession and also observed Matam (flagellation) with knives at several points on the route.
A large number of Sabeels of juices, milk and water were set up mostly by Sunnis along the route to facilitate the mourners. Besides, a number of banners calling for Shia-Sunni unity were set up by political and social workers and office-bearers of the district government.
All markets and businesses were closed while the press issued special supplements and electronic media aired special programmes. The Lahore administration had taken tight security measures.
Courtesy www.geo.tv