PESHAWAR: Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions will be observed on Monday across the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA amid tight security measures.

Chehlum processions will be taken out in different cities with heavy contingents of police and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed around the routes of the processions.

Pillion riding has already been banned in Peshawar and other major cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Like other parts of the countries, chehlum processions will be taken out in tribal areas. Stringent security measures have been taken by the respective political administrations.

Pak-Afghan border has been closed for two days on the instructions of Kurram political administration. Mobile service has also been suspended for two days in the agency.

Additional check-posts have been established in the area and security of Imam Bargahs has been further beefed up.

Foolproof security arrangements have been made by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police for the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) to be observed today (Monday).

The KP government has already imposed a two-day ban on pillion-riding of motorbike in different cities as part of security measures. The ban came into effect at 12:00am last night and will remain enforced till Monday midnight.

A notification has also been issued in this regard by the KP Home Department.

Several mourning processions will be taken out on Monday across the province to observe Chehlum amid tight security arrangements.

According to a spokesman of the KP Police, heavy contingent of police and other law enforcing agencies have already been deployed across the province for a peaceful 'Chehlum'.

Extraordinary security arrangements have been finalized for the security of processions, Majalis and other religious gatherings, he added.

Mourning processions and meetings will be held accordingly in the city and cantonment areas. Strict security measures have been made and Section-144 clamped in the city to avert any untoward incident. The Qissa Khwani Bazaar is sealed as part of security arrangements.

In the city, the main procession will be brought out from Imam Bargah Kocha Risaldar.

The participants of the procession after passing through different routes will reach the Kabuli Police Station and return to the Imam Bargah via Qissa Khwani Bazaar where a mourning gathering will be held that was addressed by scholars.

In the cantonment areas, the mourning procession will be taken out from Imam Bargah Hussainia Hall.

The participants will march on the main Saddar Road. All the roads leading to the route of the procession have already been sealed. The bazaars on the procession routes have also been closed. Processions will be taken out in Hangu, Kohat and Parachinar in Kurram Agency.

In Haripur, the mourn processions will be taken out from Imam Bargah Qadeemia, Purani Committee Chowki and will culminate at Jafri House.

Mourners from other cities including Abbottabad, Havelian, will be taken out as foolproof security measures have been made. In district Nowshera an official of Nowshera police said two processions will be taken out from Ali Masjid in Saddar and Khattak Plaza in Manki Chowk respectively which will be terminated in Saddar Bazaar in the evening.

He said heavy contingents of police have been deployed along routes for peaceful Chehlum.

In Parachinar, Kurram Agency, the political administration and officials of the law enforcing agencies have made foolproof arrangements for peaceful observance of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in Kurram Agency on Monday.

Majalis (gatherings) would be held at around 300 Imambargahs in the agency and processions would be taken out.

The political administration has also sealed Pak-Afghan border for two days, besides ban on pillion riding inside Parachinar city.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2016