Tag: Muharram

  • 10,000 police officials deployed in Lahore for foolproof security

    10,000 police officials deployed in Lahore for foolproof security

    The Lahore Police has finalised the security measures for Youm-e-Ashur. For the 10th of Muharram, more than 10,000 police officers and security personnel, including 370 female authorities will be on duty.

    The provincial capital will host 227 majalis and 47 funeral processions. Pillion riding will be completely prohibited on the 9th (today) and 10th (tomorrow) of Muharram.

    On the paths of the major processions, it has been determined to halt mobile service at particular periods. The security of the main processions will be patrolled by more than 21 teams of Elite, 21 teams of PRU, and 26 teams of Dolphin Squad, according to The News.

    The organisers were also given instructions to make sure the code of conduct was followed in this regard.

    Using a video link, commissioners and regional police officers (RPOs) from all around Punjab gathered. The meeting was updated on the security preparations for Muharram by the additional chief secretary for the interior.

    The Regional Police Officers and Divisional Commissioners who were all present via video link gave a presentation to the audience on the security measures put in place in their respective divisions.

    Punjab Minister Raja Basharat instructed Commissioners and Regional Police Officers to personally inspect the security measures on the procession routes. He recommended adding more CCTV cameras to the procession’s established pathways.

    The provincial ministers will also visit various regions to examine the security measures, as will the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Law and Order.

  • How do Shias spend 9th,10th Muharram?

    How do Shias spend 9th,10th Muharram?

    While everyone knows the reason behind why we observe Ashura, there are several misconceptions about what exactly Shias do on these two days.

    To gain some better insight, The Current spoke to several Shias about how they spend the important days of 9th and 10th Muharram and here is a short summary of what they told us.

    9th Muharram

    On 9th Muharram, all Shia Muslims attend the majlis and juloos, where they listen to the historical background of the tragic incident of Karbala. In these gatherings, the religious scholars highlight the importance of the Family of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in Islam and the hardships they faced during the incident.

    During zuhr, all men and women are segregated to offer prayer(namaz) during the juloos. After offering prayers everyone performs Ziyarat of Shabeeh e Zuljanah (Imam Hussain’s ride) after which they pray to Allah and recall the hardships of the family of Imam Hussain(A.S).

    Many Shia families arrange drinks and food, also known as Niyaz, for people attending the juloos.

    Then they pray Maghrib and Isha and do Ammaal, Nawafil that are specified for that night (Shab e Ashoor). They also recite Surah e Ikhlas because according to their Imam the surah is one of Allah’s favourite. They also eat something before Fajar for faqah which means they do not eat anything from Fajr to Zuhr.

    After this, everyone gathers to listen to the Azaan e Ali Akbar (the son of Imam was the moazzan at that time and it was his last Azaan before his Shahadat).

    10th Muharram

    Ziarat e Ashoorah (Salam to Imam Hussain and his companions) is recited at zuhr following which everyone gathers to eat Niyaz because the faqah timings end then.

    The night of 10th is called Sham e Ghareeban during which everyone listens to the hardships of the Imam’s family left after the shahadat of the male members. According to tradition, when camps were burnt down, the women and children were forced to evacuate and were made captives.

  • Karachi traffic plan for Muharram 2021

    Karachi traffic plan for Muharram 2021

    The Karachi traffic police released the traffic diversion plan for the Muharram procession that will begin from Nishtar Park and end at the Imambargah Hussainian Iranian at Kharadar, Salis Bin Parwaiz reported for The News.

    The traffic diversion plan is for Muharram 8, 9, and 10 when there will be different Muharram processions in the city.

    On Muharram 8, the procession will pass through Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Father Jaminis Road, Mehfil-e-Shah Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, Preedy Street, Tibet Chowk, MA Jinnah Road, Chand Bibi Chowk, Nishtar Road, Nigar Cinema, Altaf Hussain Road, Denso Hall, MA Jinnah Road, Kharadar police station and Bombay Bazaar to reach the Imambargah.

    Muharram 9: a procession will start from Liaquatabad via Imambargah Martin Road to the Nishtar Park where a Majlis will be held. After the Majlis, the procession will start from Nishtar Park in the afternoon and then proceed to the Imambargah Hussain Iranian, Kharadar.

    Read More: Police arrest man for stealing mobile phones during Muharram procession

    The route will include Nishtar Park, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Father Jaminis Road, Mehfil-e-Shah Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, Preedy Street, Tibet Chowk, MA Jinnah Road, Boulton Market, Bombay Bazaar, Kharadar, Nawab Mahabbat Khanji Road and Hussainian Iranian Imambargah.

    When the processions will start from Nishtar Park, all traffic coming from the city side will be diverted towards Soldier Bazaar Road (Bahadur Yar Jang Road), Coast Guard, Anklesaria Chowk to Jubilee or Nishtar Road.

    Traffic coming from Nazimabad will be diverted from Lasbela towards Nishtar Road and the zoological garden to reach their destinations. The traffic coming from the Liaquatabad side will be diverted to Martin Road towards the jail side. 

    These vehicles will be allowed to proceed to Jail Road, Jamshed Road, Dadabhoy Noorji Road, Kashmir Road, Shahrah-e-Quaideen and Sharae Faisal to reach their destination.

    All traffic coming from Stadium Road side will continue through New MA Jinnah Road. These vehicles will be diverted on Dadabhoi Noorji Road towards Kashmir Road, Society Light Signal, Shahrah-e-Quaideen and Sharea Faisal.

    The traffic coming from the Super Highway and Gulberg side will be diverted from Liaquatabad No 10 towards Nazimabad No 2 and will proceed using Habib Bank Flyover, Estate Avenue Road and Sher Shah to Mauripur Road.

    To return, these vehicles will take the same route. All kinds of traffic coming from the National Highway side will be diverted from Rashid Minhas Road towards Stadium Road, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Hassan Square, Liaquatabad No 10 and Nazimabad No 2, and will proceed via Habib Bank Flyover, Estate Avenue Road, Shershah to Mauripur Road. For the return journey, these vehicles will adopt the same route.

    Traffic will not be allowed to proceed along the route of the procession from Gurumandir. These vehicles will be diverted to Bahadur Yar Jang Road. All the vehicular traffic coming from Shahrah-e-Quaideen will not be permitted to proceed towards Numaish, except the participants of the procession and those with stickers on their windscreens allotted from the traffic police, and diverted from the Society signal.

    Traffic on MA Jinnah Road will not be allowed from Preedy Street, Aga Khan-III Road and Mansfield Street to proceed towards Saddar.

    No traffic will be allowed to pass MA Jinnah Road-Preedy Street junction until the procession has passed the intersection. All kinds of traffic coming from the zoo and Aga Khan-III Road will be allowed till Anklesaria Hospital.

  • Mobile service suspension on Ashura

    Mobile service suspension on Ashura

    The Punjab government has decided to suspend cellphone and wireless phone services in the areas surrounding the routes of Muharram 9 and 10 (Saturday and Sunday) processions, a notification stated.

    Multiple reports suggest the government has been proposed to suspend the service only in the areas where Majalis and the Muharram procession would be held.

    According to the notification, the Punjab government has sought timings and further details from the district administrations of the seven cities — Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, Jehlum, Chiniot, Okara and Bahawalpur — where cellular services will be suspended.

    The notification also directs district administrations to keep the provincial government in the loop while taking steps in this regard. It further says to send timings, during which the service will remain unavailable, to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    It is worth mentioning that mobile services are suspended every year during Ashura as part of security measures. However, it is expected that people will face fewer problems as the federal government has declared the two days as public holidays.

    In the past, mobile phone service used to remain suspended till the processions reach their respective destinations, but for the last few years, it was observed that the service was suspended in the selective areas or for less duration as the security situation has improved over the years.

  • Police arrest man for stealing mobile phones during Muharram procession

    Police arrest man for stealing mobile phones during Muharram procession

    Karachi police have reprimanded a man for stealing mobile phones during a Muharram procession in Karachi’s Orangi Town.

    According to reports, the suspect identified as Farooq alias Tracker was caught by a crowd of people who beat him up before handing him over to the police.

    The suspect confessed to his crimes and said that he used to sell the stolen phones for Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. He also admitted that he was working with a gang of six people.

    An
    FIR has been registered and police are investigating the case.

  • Ashura: Sindh govt seeks suspension of cellular services

    Ashura: Sindh govt seeks suspension of cellular services

    The Government of Sindh has recommended the Ministry of Interior to suspend cellular services in the province on 9th and 10th of Muharram, ARY News has reported.

    According to details, the Sindh home secretary has requested the interior ministry and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend mobile phone services during mourning processions of Muharram ul Haram.

    The provincial government has also issued a circular to all Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners in Sindh, to point out the provincial administration about those areas in their jurisdiction where the cellular services required to be suspended.

    The government has recommended for suspension of mobile service on selective places, especially along the routes of mourning processions.

    The suspension of cellular services and internet services is being taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order and avoid any incident of sabotage or terrorism.

    Previously, the Sindh government had suspended mobile phone and internet services in Karachi and other major cities of the province on the main routes of the mourning processions in Chehlum last year.

    Meanwhile, Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code was imposed in Rawalpindi on Thursday as part of security measures for Muharram. It will remain effective until 10th Muharram.

    Under Section 144, pillion riding and carrying weapons are banned. Wall chalking and use of loudspeakers is also not allowed.

  • Women snipers to undertake Muharram security duty with commandos

    Women snipers to undertake Muharram security duty with commandos

    A fresh batch of women cops has completed snipe shooting training to perform security duty along with already trained police commandos, The Express Tribune reported Monday.

    According to reports, the 50-women batch was imparted training at Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines, during which they were taught to insert bullets in the magazine of an SMG rifle and pistol.

    After this, the women officers were trained to load and unload weapons and also encouraged to practice by the trainer by taking their positions to fire at their targets.

    All-female personnel engaged in this snipe shooting training fired 50 bullets from the SMG rifle and 50 bullets from the pistol, reports said and quoted an official as saying that training women police personnel had become important in the current wave of terrorism.

    “A large number of men and women will participate in the upcoming processions and gatherings of Muharram. Women police officers are being deployed equally as men on the entrances of processions and meetings for police checking.”

    The police official also said that there were difficulties in deploying male police officers on the roofs of several houses along the procession routes. “Local people used to complain that there were women in their houses and they could not allow male officers in their homes due to personal reasons.”

    He explained that women police force was trained in snipe shooting to address these complaints and added that women shooters will be deployed on the roofs of houses that fall under the routes of the procession.