DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Muharram 8th processions concluded peacefully in Dera Ismail Khan.

A major procession in connection with the martyrdom of Hazrat Ghazi Abbas Alamdar (RA) passed through the traditional routes and ended at the Imambargah Haider Shah Shirazi. The second big procession started from the same imambargah and ended at Jamia Masjid Lato Faqir.

Langar, Niaz and Sabeel-i-Hussain were also arranged at different points of the processions.

Police and other law enforcement forces, as well as volunteers from Shia associations, provided security during the processions.

The streets and paths leading to the mourning procession routes were sealed off as comprehensive checking of people leaving and joining the processions was carried out by the police.

At the end of both the processions, special prayers were offered for peace in the country and for the oppressed Kashmiri and Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, the Hazara police have devised foolproof security and traffic plans for the major mourning processions on 9th and 10th Muharram across the division.

Over 5,000 police officers and jawans will perform duties to provide security to the mourners, DIG Hazara Tahir Ayub Khan said.

He said CCTV cameras had been installed along the procession routes linked to the central control room established at his office.

He said no one would be allowed to disturb peaceful environment and spread chaos and sectarianism in the region.

Mr Ayub said Elite Force commandos, traffic police officials, FC, Frontier Reserve Police, special branch, Counter-Terrorism Department, policewomen, canine unit, and bomb disposal unit would perform duties during Ashura. He said the district police officers across the division would personally monitor the mourners’ processions.

He said search and strike operations were going on in the areas around the procession routes and imambargahs to avoid any unpleasant incident.

The DIG said vehicular traffic had been diverted to designated routes to avoid any disturbance during the course of mourning processions and congregations.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2024