Amid heightened security, the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala in Peshawar and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was observed on Sunday with traditional religious spirit and reverence. The district government and provincial police made special arrangements including ban on pillion riding with suspension of mobile phone service in the areas along the route of the main mourning procession.
The main Chehlum procession in Peshawar was taken out from Imambargah Akhunabad Bajuari gate in Kohati Peshawar, while passing through traditional routes, ended peacefully. The processions mourners and Zuljinnah were also taken out from Jamia Masjid Kocha Rasaldar Qissa Khawani, and culminated at Imambargah Mirza Adeel Qasim Baig at the same area. The mourner's self-flagellation and beating chests, and holding Alam during the procession were with great reverence and solemnity.
Sabeels of water, milk and food stalls were also set-up under the surveillance of security personnel on the route of procession to facilitate the mourners. Under the unprecedented security measures, mobile service was suspended since Saturday morning and which not restored till filling of this story in Peshawar, along with other sensitive districts including Hangu, DI Khan and Tank. Walk through gates were installed at entrance of Majlis and morning processions in the city.
In Peshawar, district administration imposed section 144, to maintain law and order on the occasion, according pillion ridding will be banned for three days in the provincial capital. More than 400 personnel of police were deployed for protection of mourners' procession in the Peshawar. The city was sealed off by putting barbed wires and tents, and movement of Afghan refugees also restricted in the Peshawar.
It was also strictly banned for entering of irreverent people in the mourners' processions. To observe the Chehlum Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the Mourners processions were also held in istrict Hangu, wherein huge contigent of police were deployed for maintenance of law and order on eve of Chehlum Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS).
All entry and exist routes remained sealed off in the district. A curfew was imposed in district Hangu, from early morning around 6 O'clock till 5pm evening, while Pak-Afghan route near Kurram agency and Paranchinar was remained blocked for all kinds of vehicular traffic.
Similarly, in Kohat district around 3,000 personnel of police and law enforcement agency were assigned on duties for protection of mourners' processions, while the Army quick response force also remained alert to cope with any untoward situation. The main Kohat bazaar was closed due to security reasons, whereas the pillion ridding was also banned in the district. The mourners' processions were also taken out district Bannu, DI Khan and Parachinar under tight security arrangements.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019