KOHAT, Jan 21: Strict security measures and fear of any unpleasant incident have turned the Kohat city into a ghost town a day before Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain, being observed on Sunday.

The Chehlum is observed on Safar 20 in the country, but in Kohat it has been rescheduled for Safar 27 (Sunday) for peace in the area.

Most of the traders kept their shops shut and attendance in offices and educational institutions remained thin on Saturday, as the district administration had closed several roads of the city to traffic as part of security measures.

Commissioner Kohat Sahibzada Mohammad Anees chaired a meeting during last few days concerning security on Saturday and appealed the elders from both the sects to observe restraint and remain peaceful.

The meeting, attended by sector commander of army in Darra Adamkhel, district coordination and district police officers and assistant political agent of Frontier Region, Kohat, gave final touches to the security plan and deployment of army and police personnel at various places.

The city bazaars gave a deserted look and traders of perishable items such as fruit and vegetables sold them at throw away prices due to closure of all bazaars for the Chehlum on Sunday (today).

The business community complained that the police was not allowing people from the surrounding villages to enter the city bazaars. People on their part also did not visit bazaars and other parts of the city to avoid unnecessary frisking and questioning by the police and volunteers.

The artillery firing at the alleged hideouts of militants in the mountains touching Kohat, Orakzai Agency and Darra Adamkhel also added to the tense situation. The artillery guns have been deployed close to the city near the Kohat tunnel and on OTS Road due to close proximity with the mountains. The ear-piercing sound of the firing shook the houses and caused fear and panic among the city residents.

Over 80 per cent of Kohat, a cantonment city, is semi-urban from where a large number of people daily visit the central city.

It is also the divisional and business headquarters of the Kurram Agency, Orakzai Agency, Hangu and Karak districts and Darra Adamkhel (frontier region) of Kohat from where thousands of buyers visit Kohat city daily for shopping and official work.

Wajid Ali Khan, proprietor of the famous China Electric Store, told this correspondent that though it was not holiday or Friday, there were no buyers because police were not allowing people to enter the city from other areas for last three days.

The shopkeepers will also keep their shops closed on Sunday (today) due to the Chehlum procession, which passes through the main bazaar and its arteries.

The people from Kurram Agency, Orakzai Agency and Hangu also come to the city to join the mourners a week before the Chehlum to avoid ban on their entry, usually imposed to check entry of terrorists from tribal areas.

Syed Ghazanfar Ali, caretaker of Said Habib Iamambargah, also complained that the law-enforcement agencies resorted to strict checking in the city, which created hatred between the two sects.

Another imambargah was also situated in the proper city, which forced the district administration to take extraordinary steps for safety of the mourning processions.

Earlier, the mourners would hold main functions in the building of a girls' high school, which was closed two days before the Chehlum. During Ashura all the government schools in the city were occupied by the security forces called out for maintaining peace.