ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The mourning processions are taking out to mark the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA)‚ who were martyred in Karbala‚  today (Tuesday) across the country with religious spirit‚ devotion and respect.
Thousands of mourners are paying homage to the martyrs of Karbala including Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Islam and to give eternal lease of life to the high values of humanity.
Stringent security measures have been put in place to maintain law and order and provide foolproof security to the processions.
More than 10‚000 troops of Pakistan army are assisting civil administration for maintenance of law and order throughout the country on the occasion of Chehlum.
The Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) and other Shuhada-e-Karbala is being observed in Karachi as elsewhere in the country tomorrow with due solemnity.
The first procession of the day with ‘Alam’ have been taken out in the morning from Shah-e-Najaf Imambargah of Martin Road that will reach Nishtar Park where main majlis will be held. After the majlis the main procession of the day will be taken out from Nishtar Park.
The procession will follow its traditional route and‚ passing through Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Road‚ Father Jaminis Road‚ Mansfield Street‚ Preedy Street‚ M.A. Jinnah Road‚ Boulton Market‚ Kharadar and Nawab Mohabat Khanji Road‚ will culminate at Imambargah Hussainian Iranian in the evening.
The police and rangers have made elaborate security arrangements for the day to keep the law and order situation under control and provide safety to the participants of the processions.
The police sources said that police and rangers personnel will be deployed around imambargahs and routes of processions while snipers will also be deployed on the rooftops of the buildings along the route of procession. Monitoring through security cameras and aerial will also be done.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has imposed a ban on pillion riding for one day on the occasion of Chehlum Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) in the province including Karachi.
The ban will be effective from 12:00 midnight today (Tuesday) till 12:00 midnight on Wednesday for 24 hours.
Likewise, the provincial government has also imposed ban on carrying and displaying arms in the province for 10 days.
In Rawalpindi, the city administration has also imposed section 144 and a ban on pillion riding in Rawalpindi on the occasion of Chehlum. The ban on pillion riding has taken effect from today and will last till tomorrow.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that mobile phone services will be suspended in 31 cities throughout the country including Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore on Tuesday, in line with the government’s security plan for Chehlum.
