HYDERABAD, Jan 9: Youm-i-Ashur was observed with religious zeal throughout Sindh on Thursday amid tight security by police and Rangers. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the province.

Like every year, this year too, mourning processions on 10th of Muharram from different parts of the city joined the main procession at Qadam Gah Maula Ali.

However, rumour mongering kept making rounds with police claiming the entry of suicide bombers into the city. At one instance, such rumours forced police to cordoned-off Bano Market off Station Road.

Prayers were offered at Masjid Abul Fazal Qadam Gah Maula Ali.

Mourners carrying Alams and cribs in the memory Ali Asghar beat their chest with hands and chains on main routes under the surveillance of CCTV.

Mourners before reaching their culmination point to Karabala Dadan Shah offered Zohrain prayers under the lead of Allama Gul Hassan.

Prof Syed Mohammad Hassan Rizvi recalled how Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions sacrificed their lives for the cause of Islam in Karbala and refused to bow before Yazid. He said that Hazrat Imam Hussain’s sacrifice can never be forgotten by Muslims all around the world.

During Zohrain prayers, Irfan Hyder condemned the misbehaviour of law enforcers for subjecting mourners to lathi charge in Karachi over slogans of “Hussainyat zindabad” and “Yazdiyat muradabad.” They likened it to Israeli aggression against unarmed Gazans as people spat on the US and Israeli flags.

Anjuman-i-Hyderi’s central medical aid camp was set-up adjacent to building of Taluka Municipal Administration (TMA) City. MQM’s Khidmat-i-Khalq Committee established its camp off Station Road to offer first aid to critically injured Azadars. Several other NGOs also set up their camps on central procession’s route. MQM zonal in-charge and parliamentarians remained present in the camp and remained part of central procession for sometime.

Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Bhurgari also made an appearance on the route.

Majlis-e-Shame Ghariban was held at Qadam Gah Maula Ali and addressed by Syed Mohammad Ahsan Naqvi. The central procession crossed the St.Mary School roundabout at around 4pm against the scheduled time of 2.30 and 3pm.

Police and Rangers arranged strict security measures by putting barbed wires on all streets. Police and Rangers personnel were deployed on roof-tops on the route of procession. The route of central mourning procession was separated at Al-Raheem shopping centre through barriers by traffic police before the arrival of “Kachiyoon ka pir”. Big and small Tazia processions continued well after Magrib prayers and soon afterwards roads were opened for traffic and general public.

Syed Raza Irani, Nawaz Bhutto, Syed Basheer Hussain Shah and others lauded security arrangements and appreciated local MQM leaders, DIG, DCO and DPO Hyderabad and Brigadier Qasim of Ranges for making peaceful Ashura.

In Mirpurkhas, over 50 Alam, Zuljinah and Tazia processions were taken out from different Imam Bargahs in the city amid intensified patrolling by law enforcers. Closed circuit cameras were installed on different buildings to monitor processions.

Police control room was set up in the Municipal Shopping Centre and the DCO and DPO visited various areas to inspect security arrangements. The MQM, Khaksar Tahreek, PPP, Hilal-e-Ahmer, Mohammad Medical college, Shehri Ittehad, Scouts Camp and Anjuman-e-Tajiran set-up their camps. Later Sham-e-Ghariban was held at Dargah Makhan Shah which was addressed by Ziaul Hassan Naqvi.

In Umerkot, central mourning procession started from Panj Pir Imam Bargah and terminated at Shahi Bazaar Chowk. Mourner processions emerged from Panjpir, Syed Bukhari, Pir Muhammad Shah, Amb Jo Pir, Masoomeen and Baloch Imam Bargahs and performed Azadari.

Heavy contingent of police and rangers were deployed on procession route manned by law enforcers. Streets were blocked with barbed wires.

Mourning processions were also taken out in Shikarpur, Dadu, Jacobabad, Umerkot and other cities and towns of Sindh.