Amid red alert, Shia community commemorated 9 of Muharram-ul-Haram with traditional zeal and fervor. Special ceremonies were held to highlight the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain in the battle of Karbala.
The Peshawar Cant was sealed for traffic and pedestrians, creating multifarious problems for the residents of the area. Barbered wires were placed on all entry points of the Cantt and only the Saddar Arbab road was open for mourners to reach the Hussainia Imambargah.
A big mourning procession was taken out from the main Imam Bargah Hussania located at Sadar road. Hundreds of Shia muslims participated in the procession from the Hussania Hall and marched on different roads including the Fakhr-e-Alam Road, Tipu Sultan Road and Kalabari, Fowara Chaok. The mourning procession was participated by men, women, children and Afghan refugees.
To cope with any untoward incident, heavy contingent of police were deployed on designated routs on which the mourning procession marched. Police were guarding every yard. Huge contingent of security personnel were also deputed on the roof of the buildings adjacent to the roads through which processions passed.
The volunteers of civil defense, scouts and the peace committee of the Cantonment assisted the law enforcement agencies in maintaining law and order.
All the designated roads were heavily guarded and people from other sects were not allowed to enter the Cant area. All bazaars in the Cantt area remained closed. Police high ups visited the venue of the procession and examined the security arrangements.
Before taking out the mourning procession, the Shia scholors highlighted the incident of Karbala. They vowed to continue to condemn the tragic incident till the end of the world. He said that protest against the cruelty was a legacy of the martyrs of Karbala.
On Friday Muharram was observed in Peshawar Cantt while on Saturday, the Taazia and Zuljinnah processions will be brought out from Imambagahs in the City. The main procession will be taken out from Imambagah Kocha Agha Syed Ali Shah at Chari Koban.
The mourning processions will also be taken out from other Imambargahs including Haji Rehman Malik at Mohallah Marvi, Kohati Gate, Imambargah of Tehkhana Gulbacha Jee, Imambargah Haider Shah near Jehangir pura and Imambargah Agha Syed Mir Fazal Shah at Mohallah Khudadad at Qissakhwani.
