9th Muharram processions to be taken out today, tight security arrangements across the country

ISLAMABAD: 9th Muharram is being celebrated with devotion and respect across the country, processions will be taken out in every city today, for which tight security arrangements have been made.

In Karachi, Khatib-e-Pakistan Allama Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi will address the central mourning gathering at Nishtar Park today at 10 am, after which the main procession will be taken out from Nishtar Park at 1 pm under the leadership of Pak Haideri Scouts.

The main procession will pass through the designated routes and end at Hussaini Irani Imambargah Kharadar. During the procession, mourners will offer Zuhr prayers in front of Imambargah Ali Raza located on MA Jinnah Road.

According to officials, the streets and roads adjacent to the procession routes have been sealed by installing containers, while markets and shops on the procession route have been closed for three days.

Under the security plan, more than 5,000 police personnel and Rangers personnel have been deployed on the route of the procession. While trained personnel equipped with binoculars and modern weapons have been deployed on the high-rise buildings along the route. After a complete check by the bomb disposal squad, the route of the procession will be handed over to the administration.

Police officials have instructed citizens that both tracks of MA Jinnah Road from Guru Mandir to Tower are closed, so citizens should take alternative routes.

Apart from Karachi, 9 Muharram processions will be taken out in small and big cities and towns of the country including Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and they have already started in many cities.