Amid tight security, Muharram 9th procession concludes without incident

The main procession of the 9th of Muharram in Karachi on Tuesday reached its destination peacefully amid strict security measures.

The roads leading to Karachi s main traffic artery MA Jinnah Road were closed by police with containers for the security of processions.

The central mourning procession was started from Nishtar Park. It passed through Mehfil-e-Shah Khurasaan, Saddar, Preedy Street, Baba-e-Urdu Road, MA Jinnah Road and culminated at Hussainia Irania Imambargah in Kharadar.

Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were deployed to protect the main procession.

Surveillance was conducted using CCTV cameras. All shops in Saddar and along the route of the procession were closed and security personnel were deployed on rooftops.

Scouts organisations, rescue services, and the city administration had made arrangements to facilitate the participants of the procession.

The health department and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had declared an emergency in all public sector hospitals of Karachi.

Stalls of water and soft drinks were also set up for the mourners along the procession route.

IGP reviews security

Earlier in the day, IGP AD Khowaja reviewed the security arrangements for the 9th and the 10th of Muharram.

He visited the command and control centre and later inspected the route of the main of procession.

The IGP was briefed about the security steps that included the deployment of sharpshooters on rooftops along the route of the mourning along with commandos.

He was informed that 6,150 police officers had been deployed for the procession’s security.

Besides, 19,519 police officers were deployed for the 346 imambargahs, 567 majalis, and other 279 processions across the city.

A police report said walkthrough gates were set up at the entrance of Nishtar Park and physical checking was also being ensured.

These security steps have also been taken at Husanian Iranian Imambargah.

The IGP ordered strict patrolling, picketing and snap checking.

Ebad orders security

Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad ordered that foolproof security steps be taken for Muharram.

A Governor’s House statement issued on Tuesday read that Ebad contacted the Rangers director general Maj Gen Bilal Akbar, chief secretary Siddique Memon, the IGP, additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Mahar, deputy mayor Karachi Arshad Vohra and the managements of the processions and majalis to discuss security measures.

The governor stressed the need for foolproof security arrangements for Muharram.

He said monitoring and surveillance of the routes of Muharram processions be ensured, particularly using CCTV cameras.

He instructed the deputy mayor to ensure that the required arrangements for cleanliness were made.

The governor also the chief secretary to remain in contact with commissioners and deputy commissioners so that foolproof security could be ensured throughout the province. 

On Monday, the Sindh chief minister had ordered the law-enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security on the 9th and 10th of Muharram across the province.

“We have been holding regular meetings on the security of Muharram and have personally visited the route of main procession,” said Murad Ali Shah. “Therefore, there shouldn’t be any security issues.”

At a security review meeting, the IGP said on the 9th of Muharram, there would be 528 majalis in Karachi, including 39 held by Sunnis. Similarly on the 10th of Muharram, there would be 403 majalis, including 23 held by Sunnis. There would be 279 and 289 processions on the 9th and the 10th of Muharram in Karachi respectively.The IGP said overall, 25,674 police personnel, including 22,381 male cops, 389 female police, and 2,778 Razakars would be deployed in the province on the 10th of Muharram. Giving details, the IGP said on the 10th of Muharram, a procession will start from Nishtar Park at 10am. It will head towards Purani Numaish, Sadddar Empress Market, Regal Chowk, MA Jinnah Road, Denso Sall, Bolton Market, Plastic Market and end at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah at 6pm. The mourners will offer Zuhrain prayers near Tibet Center at 1.30pm. Khowaja also briefed the chief minister about the potential flashpoints of the main procession and said extraordinary security arrangements had been made there.

He said that there were four platoons of the reserve force which would be deployed at Nishtar Park, Numaish Chowrangi, Imambargah Ali Raza, Capri Cinema, Saddar Dawakhana, Empress Market, Regal Chowk, Tibet Center, Saeed Manzil, Radio Pakistan, Eidgah Market, Ligh House, Bolton Market, Bara Imambargah, Baghdadi, Kharadar and Imambargah Hussainian Iranian.

Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher said on the 10th Muharram, the main Tazia procession would be joined by small Tazia ones emerging from different parts of the city on MA Jinnah Road and then proceed to Native Jetty Bridge.

He added that a large contingent of police would act as a buffer to keep mourners at a safe distance.

The chief minister said mostly people did not follow the traditional route and a wide gap developed between the head and the tail positions of the procession.He also discussed the evacuation plan for mourners in case of any untoward incident.

Cellular, internet service 

On the request of the Sindh government, cellular phone and internet service were to remain suspended for defined periods in Karachi on Tuesday and Wednesday
(tomorrow). However, for the most part, services remained open in the city yesterday, and it remains to be seen whether the announced suspension - scheduled from 8am to 10pm - is applied on Wednesday (today).