Strict security measures: Ashura observed peacefully across KP

PESHAWAR: The Ashura Muharram was observed peacefully across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite numerous threats.

Alam and Zuljanah processions were taken out on the 10th of Muharram from several Imambargah in old parts of the Peshawar city and elsewhere in the province.

Majalis — mourning sessions — were arranged in the evening where the speakers remembered the martyrs of Karbala. They were paid rich tributes for the supreme sacrifice they offered for the glory of Islam.

The Health and Local Government departments, Rescue 1122 teams and volunteers remained present along with cops and other law-enforcement agencies to facilitate the mourners. No untoward incident was reported from any district during the 10 days of Muharram for which extraordinary security arrangements had been made.

Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan praised all the senior, junior officials, especially constables, and personnel of other departments and forces for ensuring foolproof arrangements for the Ashura.

He said the force did an excellent job throughout and that was why no untoward incident happened during the first 10 days of Muharram. Several districts were declared sensitive and most sensitive due to threats as well as law and order situation.

The cellular phone signals remained suspended in many towns of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for security reasons. All the routes of the processions were swept by the bomb disposal experts and sniffer dogs.

Over 13,000 policemen were deployed in Peshawar for security during the Ashura Muharram.“The team in Peshawar and other districts did an excellent and hectic job. Security provided to the Muharram processions and majalis in Peshawar in three layers” Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ashfaq Anwar told reporters.

He said that apart from deployment of more continents and setting up checkpoints, intelligence-based operations continued on the outskirts. The CCPO said the staff of various other departments also played an important role during the Ashura and that was why the situation remained peaceful.

HARIPUR: The Youm-e-Ashur was observed peacefully in Haripur. Alam and Zuljanah processions were taken out in Haripur and Khanpur amid tight security.

The mobile service remained suspended while deployment of police cops on the sides of the routes were made. The CCTV cameras were used to monitor processions.

TANK: The mourning processions of 10th of Muharram were taken out in four areas of the Tank district which culminated peacefully after marching through traditional routes. Muharram mourning processions were taken out in other cities and towns of KP as well.