Security, traffic plans followed to ensure smooth execution of Muharram 9 procession – Pakistan

With the Muharram 9 memorial processions taken from several cities on Monday, cell services continued suspended as a measure to thwart any unwanted incident.

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) announced on Sunday that mobile phone services would be suspended in Muharram 9 and 10 in specific areas of all cities in the country.

While the PTA did not confirm the exact times, cellular services, particularly in the areas through which the processions pass, are expected to remain suspended from morning until 6 p.m. on both days.

A senior Interior Ministry official said the government had issued a specific notification. Without naming locations, the official said that cell services in all the cities of Pakistan would be suspended in the areas identified and indicated by the district administrations and the police in their respective cities for the safety of the mourners during the processions.

Karachi

In Karachi, 263 different processions were carried out to commemorate the sacrifices made in Muharram 9. In light of this, the Karachi traffic police established a plan to minimize the impact of blockages on traffic flow.

According to the plan, in Muharram 9, at 9 am, a procession of Alam was taken from Markazi Imambargah, Liaquatabad.

This procession went first to Martin Road Imambargah and then to Nishtar Park, where a Majlis was held.

Around 12 noon, the procession was taken from Nishtar Park to Hussainian Iranian Imambargah, Kharadar, through the following routes.

The procession began in Nishtar Park and continued to Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Mehfil-i-Shah-i-Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, MA Jinnah Road, Boulton Market, Bombay Bazaar, Kharadar, Nawaz Mahabat Khanjee Road and then to Hussainian Iranian Imambargah.

As soon as the procession started from Nishtar Park, all vehicle traffic coming from the city side was diverted to Soldier Bazaar Road from the MA Jinnah Road / Dr Dawood Pota Road junction.

All types of traffic from the Nazimabad side diverted to Lasbela, Nishtar Road and Zoological Gardens.

All traffic coming from the Liaquatabad side was diverted to Martin Road to the Karachi Central Jail.

However, these vehicles were allowed to advance to Central Jail and then continue along Jamshed Road, Dada Bhoy Noorji Road, Kashmir Road, Sharea Quaideen, Sharea Faisal, Lucky Star, Sarwar Shaheed Road, Fawara Chowk, Shaheen Complex, II Chundrigar Road and Tower.

All traffic coming from the Stadium Road side proceeded through New MA Jinnah Road. These vehicles were diverted to Dada Bhoy Noorji Road to Kashmir Road, Society Light Signal, Shahrah-i-Quaideen to Sharea Faisal.

All types of traffic from the Super Highway diverted from Liaquatabad No. 10 to Chowrangi No. 2 Nazimabad and continued along Habib Bank Chowk, Estate Avenue Road, Sher Shah to Mauripur Road. For the return trip, these vehicles adopted the same route.

All types of National Highway traffic continued through Rashid Minhas Road, Stadium Road, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Hassan Square, Liaquatabad No10, Nazimabad Chowrangi No 2, Habib Bank, Estate Avenue Road, Sher Shah and Mauripur Road. For the return trip, these vehicles will also adopt the same route.

Traffic was not allowed to move towards the procession route from Gurumandir (roundabout).

These vehicles were diverted to Bahadur Yar Jang Road and again to Khan Bahadur Naqi Muhammad Khan Road. It was stated that under no circumstances will these vehicles be allowed to advance on Soldier Bazaar Road from the crossing of Khan Bahadur Naqi Muhammad Khan Road and Bahadur Yar Jan Road.

All types of traffic coming to the Quaid-i-Azam mausoleum through MA Jinnah Road were diverted to Bahadur Yar Jang Road. The transit of vehicles to Purani Numaish was not allowed under any circumstances.

It was not allowed that all types of vehicular traffic that approached Purani Numaish through Shahra-e-Quaideen (except those who arrived to participate in the procession with stickers stuck on their windshields emitted from this office) did not come from the roundabout of the roundabout of the Office of the Society behind the mausoleum.

All types of traffic going to Saddar and other colonies were not allowed to proceed to Empress Market from the Preedy Street / MA Jinnah Road, Court Road Chowk and Fresko Chowk junction when the head of the procession arrives near the MA Jinnah crossing Road / Mansfield Street.

Lahore

In Lahore, the procession departed from Pandu Street. Zuhr prayers were offered near the Noori building. At night, from the Lahore Secretariat he arrived near the Anarkali police station, where Maghrib prayers were offered.

After Maghrib's prayers, the procession followed its usual route and reached Khaima-i-Sadat, where a majlis was held. Then, the procession once again reached Pandu Street, where it culminated.

The Punjab government had established control rooms in all Lahore districts and is monitoring majalis and processions to ensure security arrangements.

According to reports, up to 33,356 majalis would be held and 8,674 processions would take place in the province of Punjab during the holy month.

Up to 6,560 troops and 3,120 Rangers, while 232,328 police and 138,335 volunteers perform security tasks.

Islamabad

The district administration decided to close the route for the mourning procession of Muharram 9 after Asr's prayers.

Two processions will take place in the city. The first, who left the same location, will arrive at his destination, Imambargah Jamia Isna Ashri at 10 p.m. The second will leave Imambargah Moosa Kazim at 12 p.m. and will culminate at the same place at 5 a.m.

Raja Bazaar merchants and nearby areas have been asked to close their markets, and the Taleemul Quran seminar has announced a two-day holiday for their students.

The administration rejected a request from merchants to close Raja Bazaar and other markets at night so they could easily return home.

Meanwhile, the district administration asked the Koran Taleemul seminar to close for four days to avoid a situation similar to violence in 2013, when the seminary, the mosque and more than 100 stores were set on fire and the images of Ambargahs were damaged in Ashura on November 15. .

However, the seminar gave its students two days off and will remain closed during the procession.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Randhawa said Sunrise that the district administration and the local police have made arrangements to keep the peace in Muharram.

He said speakers are not allowed in the district under the National Action Plan, particularly during Muharram and for Friday congregations. Local police and administration officials will remain in the Raja Bazaar mosque to avoid any unpleasant situation, he said.

He said arrangements have been made to avoid a situation similar to 2013, and religious scholars who asked for help from the administration and the police to keep the peace have secured their support.