Chehlum observed peacefully countrywide
ISLAMABAD: The Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain was observed with traditional religious fervour on Thursday and no untoward incidents were reported from any part of the country.
In Peshawar, the main Chehlum procession originated from the Qissa Khawani Bazaar amid tight security and concluded peacefully.
The main procession in Rawalpindi was led by Tehreek-i-Nifaz Fiqah Jafariya chief Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi, which was joined by two other processions and later culminated at the Imambargah Qadeemi.
Also read: Chehlum procession concludes
In Lahore, where security was extraordinarily tight owing to the overlap of Chehlum observances with the Urs of Data Gunj Bukhsh, law-enforcement officials carried out a flag march before the central procession, which traditionally originates from Mubarak Haveli in the walled city, began.
In Karachi, the main procession – guarded by at least 16,000 law-enforcement personnel – set off from Nishtar Park and culminated in Kharadar. Mourners, including men, women and children, marched about 15km to the Imambargah Husainian Iranian, where Allama Talib Jauhari addressed the main majlis after sunset.
In Hyderabad, the central procession originated from the Qadam Gah Maula Ali and culminated in Dadan Shah. In Sukkur, the procession was taken out from the Central Imambargah.
However, Shia leaders protested their treatment at the hands of Kashmore police in Ghotki district. They claimed that police had stopped the procession while it was passing through its route.
Processions were also organised in Badin, Jacobabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin and Tharparkar.
In Quetta, the main procession was taken out from Imambargah Jaffar Sadiq which was later joined by smaller processions at Alamdar Road.
The procession, led by Syed Musarrat Agha, senior vice president of Shia Conference Balochistan, terminated at Marriabad graveyard after parading various roads.
Strict security measures were put in place across the country and aerial surveillance of all processions in major metropolis was also carried out, while CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates were installed to check mourners and ensure their safety.
Jamil Nagri adds from Gilgit: Police claimed to have foiled an attempt by suspected terrorists to attack a Chehlum procession in Gilgit city.
Four suspected terrorists were arrested during a raid at a house in Basin area and arms were seized from their possession.
An official of the Gilgit police told Dawn that personnel of police and Rangers raided the house near Basin early on Thursday on a tip-off that a terrorist group had planned to attack the Chehlum procession in Gilgit city.
The official said that four suspected terrorists – Fidaul Rahman, Jamaluddin, Sageer and Said Nadeem, all residents of Basin – were arrested during the raid and hand-grenades and other weapons were seized.
Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2015