PESHAWAR: Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, was observed peacefully as all the mourning processions in provincial capital and other parts of the province concluded amid strict security arrangements on Tuesday evening.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat Khan lauded different departments including police, district administration, security and paramilitary forces for maintaining law and order and appreciated rescue authorities for their services. They also thanked religious scholars.

According to a statement issued by Chief Minister’s House, 846 processions were held in 14 districts of the province. Not even a single untoward incident was reported during Ashura.

“There was a constant threat and an impression was being given continuously that militants could target Muharram programmes to create anarchy,” said police chief in a statement.

CM lauds govt depts, security agencies and religious scholars for maintaining peace

He said that there was a constant threat but police devised a strategy for maintaining peace. He said that police, with the help of drone cameras, monitored processions across the province and made sure to keep an eye on miscreants. He added that latest equipment and manpower were utilised not to let miscreants an opportunity to create anarchy.

He thanked Frontier Constabulary, civil armed forces, army and intelligence agencies for maintaining peace during Muharram. He added that religious scholars also played their due role in maintaining peace on Ashura.

In Dera Ismail Khan, mourning processions of Ashura ended peacefully. The main procession appeared from Imambargah Bammun Shah in the morning. About 16 small and large processions from other parts of the city including Hashmi Chowk, Hussaini Chowk, Imambargah Fazal Abbas, Imambargah Yalla Shah, Imambargah Hazrat Abbas, Haideri Chowk, Alamdar Chowk, Imambargah Haider Shah Shirazi joined the main procession.

The processions passed through their traditional routes and reached Kotli Imam Hussain where they came to an end.

The district was divided into four zones and eight sectors. About 8,500 police personnel were deployed under the security plan to maintain peace in the district.

Mobile phone service remained suspended in all parts of the district while security personnel were deployed on routes of processions besides ensuring monitoring through CCTV cameras.

Pillion riding was banned while different streets were sealed and bomb disposal unit checked the routes of processions.

Deputy Commissioner Mansoor Arshad and DPO Nasir Mehmood also visited various imamabarghas and routes of processions to inspect facilities put in place for Muharram and review security arrangements.

In Tank, the main Ashura procession was held in Gara Baloch village. Section 144 was imposed in the district. There was a complete ban on motorcycle riding and mobile phone service remained suspended on 9th and 10th of Muharram.

Mourning processions were also held peacefully in the entire Kohat division including Kohat, Orakzai, Kurram and Hangu districts.

Commissioner Mohammad Abid Khan Wazir and deputy commissioners of the respective districts monitored security situation and remained in contact with the leaders of all schools of thought.

The commissioner lauded peace committees, personnel of law enforcement agencies and other departments for their exemplary work during Muharram.

In Bannu and Lakki Marwat, 10th of Muharram was observed with religious reverence. Bannu DPO Ziauddin Ahmed supervised security arrangements. Police officials monitored processions with the help of CCTV cameras while snipers were deployed at rooftops.

In Lakki Marwat, a procession, led by Syed Ghayur Abbas Shah, was taken out from the imambargah located at Mohallah Sayyedan that ended at Bukhari Shah graveyard after passing through traditional routes.

Bannu Commissioner Parweiz Sabatkhel and RPO Imran Shahid along with Deputy Commissioner Rahmat Ali Wazir and DPO Taimur Khan inspected security arrangements for peaceful observance of Ashura.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024