ISLAMABAD: The country is observing Muharram 9 on Thursday with stringent security measures in place to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
According to state broadcaster PTV News, 81 mourning processions and 386 religious gatherings are being held in Lahore. In Peshawar, the central mourning procession began from Imambargah Hussainia Hall at around 10am, while Islamabad’s central procession is scheduled to depart in the afternoon from Markazi Imambargah Asna-e-Ashri. In Karachi, the main procession will start from Nishtar Park and conclude at Imambargah Hussainia Iranian.
Authorities across the country have implemented extensive security and traffic management plans for Muharram observances. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry chaired a meeting to review security arrangements, attended by home secretaries and senior police officials from all provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Participants received detailed briefings on security measures for mourning processions and religious gatherings.
During the meeting, Chaudhry stressed that safeguarding the lives and property of citizens remained the government’s top priority. Home secretaries and law enforcement agencies were directed to further strengthen security arrangements to ensure peaceful observances.
In Karachi, traffic police have announced alternative routes for commuters as several roads will remain closed during the 9th and 10th Muharram processions. According to a statement issued by the office of the Karachi deputy inspector general (DIG), M.A. Jinnah Road will remain closed from Gurumandir to Tower. Roads from Jamshed Road to Gurumandir and Bahadur Yar Jang Road will also remain closed between 10:30am and 1:30pm on Muharram 9.
Traffic police shared alternative travel routes through social media to help commuters reach their destinations. Separately, Karachi police stated that 20,181 personnel, including 1,329 traffic police officers, had been deployed across the city for Muharram 9 security duties. Of these, 6,843 personnel have been assigned to secure the central procession. Additional reserve force personnel, police units and snipers have also been stationed along the procession route.
In Islamabad, authorities are monitoring Muharram processions and gatherings through drones, while geo-tagging of all imambargahs, majalis venues and procession routes has been completed. A special mobile application, “Mehfooz Muharram”, has also been launched, enabling citizens to report suspicious activities, individuals or inadequate security arrangements. The application includes live location and image-sharing features.
A central control room has been established at Safe City Islamabad, and authorities have announced the implementation of a four-tier security cordon to ensure the protection of processions and religious gatherings throughout Muharram.
Punjab has also put extensive security arrangements in place. According to PTV News, more than 70,000 personnel have been deployed across the province for Muharram 9. Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Kareem has directed officials to strictly enforce Section 144. Snipers have been positioned on buildings along procession routes, while plainclothes personnel have also been deployed to provide additional security.
Overall, more than 152,000 police personnel have been assigned security duties throughout Muharram in Punjab, while the Army and Rangers have also been requisitioned to assist in maintaining law and order. Last week, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to implement a three-tier security plan for Muharram and urged organisers of religious gatherings to activate QR-coded panic buttons installed at 4,700 imambargahs across the province.
Officials informed the chief minister that a total of 47,280 religious gatherings and processions would be held across Punjab during Muharram, including 37,868 majalis and 9,412 processions. The Punjab Safe Cities Authority is conducting live digital monitoring of processions, supported by 5,623 CCTV cameras activated throughout the province. Additionally, 1,040 body cameras, modern surveillance drones and more than 1,000 advanced 4G event cameras have been deployed at highly sensitive locations.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police have devised a comprehensive security plan involving the deployment of 12,000 personnel in Peshawar for Muharram processions. Personnel from city police, rapid response units, quick response forces, ladies traffic police and bomb disposal squads have been assigned security duties.
Authorities said three-layer security arrangements would be provided for all mourning processions, while gun points would be established at high-rise buildings along procession routes. Around 1,000 traffic personnel have also been deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow across the city.
Bomb disposal units and sniffer dogs are conducting security sweeps of imambargahs, majalis venues and procession routes. Plainclothes officers have also been deployed at sensitive locations and places of worship throughout the city.
Last week, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed instructed officials to strengthen coordination with district administrations and peace committees to prevent any untoward incidents during Muharram. Authorities have also announced that Muharram processions and gatherings on Ashura will be monitored through the Safe City camera network in Peshawar.
Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 43,317 police personnel have been deployed for Muharram security duties, while Section 144 has been enforced in various districts. Of the province’s 614 imambargahs, 127 have been categorised as highly sensitive, 262 as sensitive and 225 as normal. Authorities expect 907 Muharram processions across the province, including 286 highly sensitive, 190 sensitive and 431 normal processions.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar Transport Department announced on Wednesday that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service would remain suspended on the 9th and 10th of Muharram as part of the overall security measures.