Due to concerns about violence, major cities throughout the nation, including Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, are observing Muharram 9th processions on Saturday under increased security. In certain areas, cell phone service has been prohibited, and important locations have been shut.
To avert any undesirable events, authorities in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar deployed tens of thousands of police officers, cordoned off key locations, and partially halted mobile phone service.
The main Muharram 9th procession in Karachi will start from Nishtar Park at 1:00 p.m. Allama Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi will give a sermon in a majlis (religious assembly) in Nishtar Park prior to the parade. The congregational Zuhrain prayers will be led by the Imamia Students Organization following the majlis.
Before coming to an end at the Husainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar, the procession will travel its customary path, going by Numaish, Saddar, Radio Pakistan, Jamia Cloth, and Denso Hall. For the event, all security measures have been finalized.
The biggest parade in Lahore started at 10:00 a.m. at the Pandu Street neighborhood of the city. More than 147,000 officers and staff were deployed across the province to protect 1,689 processions and about 3,900 majalis (religious gatherings), according to Punjab Police spokespersons. Over 10,000 cops are protecting 378 majalis and 79 processions in Lahore alone.
The Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit (PRU) have been given special orders. Coordination between all teams and Rescue 1122, the fire department, Rescue 15, and other emergency agencies is ongoing. Women’s and children’s safety is receiving extra emphasis.
Dr. Usman Anwar, the Punjab Inspector General, declared that the entire province was on high alert. “The Loudspeaker Act and Section 144 are being strictly enforced.”
Mobile phone services have been banned in Peshawar on the 9th and 10th of Muharram due to security concerns. For two days, the city’s BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) service has also been suspended. At ten in the morning, the main procession left Husainia Hall. Peshawar’s commercial districts are closed, while the Saddar and Cantonment neighborhoods have been totally cordoned off.
