Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain being observed

KARACHI: The Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain was being observed with traditional religious fervour on Monday in all parts of the country amid stringent security measures.

Mourning processions were being taken out from major and small cities of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi.

Strict security measures were put in place across the country and aerial surveillance of all processions in the major metropolis was also carried out, while CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras and walkthrough gates were also installed to check mourners and ensure their safety.

All entry points leading to the main routes of the processions were closed using barbed wired and containers while shops were also sealed.

Pillion-riding was banned in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi throughout the day.

In Lahore, Section-144, which forbids the gathering of more than four people at any public place, was imposed and a ban on pillion-riding was in place. Later in the day, mobile service was also suspended in the walled city on the appeal of the Punjab government.

Special security measurements were made for the security of mourners and processions in Quetta and Peshawar.

 

Security in Karachi

In Karachi, where security was extraordinarily tight owing to the overlap of Chehlum observances with the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS), which is to open at the Karachi Expo Centre on Tuesday (November 22) along with a pillion-riding ban.

Mobile service remained suspended in the city during a major time of the day when the processions were being carried out.

The main procession – guarded by at least 5,000 law-enforcement personnel including police and Rangers officials –set off from Nishtar Park to culminate in Kharadar.

MA Jinnah road has been cordoned off from Numaish to Tower in order to facilitate the procession of mourners. Shops on the road were sealed following which the road was closed for any kind of traffic using heavy containers.

Meanwhile, the law enforcement officials also carried out a flag march before the central procession on main roads of the port city.