The 9th of Muharram-ul Haram is being observed across Pakistan today with due solemnity and respect to pay homage to the sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in Karbala.
Majalis will be held in all small and major cities while processions of Tazia and Alam will also taken out in different cities.
Rawalpindi Police finalise extensive security plan for Muharram
Security arrangements by Rawalpindi Police for Muharram-ul-Haram on the instructions of CPO Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani have been finalised.
More than 7,000 police officers and personnel will perform security duties. More than 1,100 Traffic Police personnel will perform their duties. Women police officers will also perform security and traffic duties at gatherings (Majalis) and processions.
More than 1,000 volunteers will assist in security arrangements, said the CPO. Special training for volunteers has been conducted at Police Headquarters. Foolproof security will be provided for 475 processions during Muharram-ul-Haram.
Foolproof security will be provided for 2,201 Majalis during Muharram-ul-Haram. A special control room has been established at Safe City Rawalpindi. No person will be allowed to enter a procession or Majlis without a body search.
Parking will not be allowed near Imambargahs. Adjacent roads and streets along procession routes will be sealed. Processions will be monitored through Safe City and other cameras. The SOPs and code of conduct issued by the Government of Punjab regarding Muharram-ul-Haram will be enforced.
Legal action is being taken in cases where tenants/employees are not registered. Hostels, hotels and inns will not accommodate any person in violation of SOPs. Social media is being monitored, and immediate legal action will be taken against religious and sectarian hatred.
Rawalpindi Police is taking all measures to maintain peace, law and order, and an atmosphere of brotherhood during Muharram-ul-Haram.
In accordance with the instructions of the Chief Minister Punjab and the Inspector General of Police Punjab, foolproof security arrangements during Muharram-ul-Haram will be ensured, said CPO Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani.
Section 144 imposed in Punjab
The Punjab government imposed Section 144 across the province during Muharram-ul-Haram in order to maintain law and order and ensure security, and a formal notification has also been issued in this regard.
According to the issued notification, Section 144 will remain enforced throughout Punjab until June 26.
During this period, strict security arrangements have been made across the province, and a complete ban will be imposed on the display of all kinds of weapons and combustible materials in public places.
The notification further stated that the construction of bunkers on the rooftops of houses or other buildings located along the routes of mourning processions will be prohibited.
All Punjab theatres to remain shut until 13th Muharram
All theatres across Punjab will remain closed from the 1st to the 13th of Muharram-ul-Haram, and the Punjab Arts Council has issued a notification in this regard.
According to the notification, no theatre plays or cultural programmes will be held in theatres out of respect for Muharram-ul-Haram.
All theatres have been directed to ensure the implementation of the ban on stage dramas during Muharram-ul-Haram.
Meanwhile, extraordinary security arrangements have been completed for the five major Muharram processions in Lahore.
Personnel of the Pakistan Army and Rangers will be deployed at sensitive locations, while drone units will carry out continuous aerial surveillance and monitoring.
According to police officials, a special security plan will be enforced for the processions at Thokar Niaz Baig, Model Town, Shadman, and Pandu Street.
Islamabad police security arrangements during Muharram
Islamabad police have formulated a comprehensive security plan during Muharram days, officially effective from Muharram 1st to Safar 19th.
According to the plan, more than 15000 police officials and rangers will perform their duties. The Islamabad police authorities confirmed that a total of 177 processions and 929 Muharram gatherings will occur in the federal capital.
For the safety of Muharram gatherings, the safe city control rooms will be installed in the city. The police officials and other relevant departments will monitor the movement of processions and other gatherings.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Islamabad, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, will monitor the processions and gatherings in the federal capital.
“Mehfooz Muharram”: First-ever security app launched in Islamabad
Islamabad launched first-ever digital app, “Mehfooz Muharram” (Safe Muharram) as a part of the security strategy for Muharram-ul-Haram.
The security arrangements were reviewed during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who examined the administrative and security preparations for Muharram.
The newly introduced Mehfooz Muharram app will allow citizens to actively participate in maintaining security by reporting suspicious individuals and unusual activities. The application will also provide live location and image sharing features, enabling authorities to respond quickly to potential threats.
All Imambargahs, religious gatherings, and procession routes in Islamabad will be under digital surveillance to closely monitor activities during Muharram. Additionally, a central control room has been established at Safe City Islamabad to oversee security operations and coordinate emergency responses throughout the holy month.
Government announces no loadshedding on Muharram 9,10
The federal energy minister, Sardar Awais Leghari, announced that there will be no loadshedding on Muharram 9 and 10. Sardar Awais Leghari instructed all the relevant departments and authorities to provide electricity on Muharram 9 and 10.
The federal energy minister also warned the relevant authorities of strict action if any negligence were to happen in providing electricity on Muharram 9 and 10.
Sardar Awais Leghari also issued strict codes of conduct to all the power provider companies for the continuous provision of electricity across the country.
The federal energy minister also directed all the power provider companies to provide continuous electricity on the routes of Muharram gatherings across Pakistan.
Water supply to remain uninterrupted during Muharram in Karachi
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) finalised a comprehensive emergency plan to ensure uninterrupted water supply and effective drainage services across the city during Muharram-ul-Haram and Ashura.
The arrangements have been made on the directives of Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and KWSC Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, who have instructed all relevant officials to remain on high alert throughout the holy month.
According to a circular issued by Chief Operating Officer Engineer Asadullah Khan, all water and sewerage-related works around mosques, imambargahs, majalis venues, sabeels, and procession routes must be completed before Ashura.
KWSC has directed its officers to maintain close coordination with district administrations, law enforcement agencies, elected representatives, and religious organisations to facilitate Muharram gatherings and processions.
PMD issues Karachi weather forecast for 9th and 10th Muharram
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) have issued a three day weather forecast for Karachi for June 24-26, warning of partly cloudy to misty and humid weather, including the observance of 9th and 10th Muharram. There are also some chances for showers and winds from time to time during the forecast period in isolated areas of the city.
The weather will be partly cloudy with humid conditions and intermittent winds in Karachi on June 24 (8th Muharram) with light drizzle in the forecast. The same situation is expected on June 25 (9th Muharram) and June 26 (10th Muharram/Ashura). The temperatures for the day will be above 34 C and at night it will be around 28 C to 30 C.
The PMD reports that the humidity will be high, 70-80 per cent in the morning, decreasing to 55-65 per cent by evening.
Muharram 9 and 10: Which roads will remain closed in Karachi?
Karachi Traffic Police has issued a traffic plan on Wednesday (today), regarding the major Muharram procession on the 9th and 10th.
According to the traffic police, MA Jinnah Road from Guru Mandir to Tower will remain closed for all types of traffic.
The main procession of Muharram will start from Nishtar Park and will end at Hussainia Iranian Imam Bargah via its traditional routes.
Karachi traffic police suggested alternative routes for people coming to Karachi from interior Sindh or other cities.
As per the traffic plan, the authorities instructed car riders coming from Nazim Abad to take the route of Lasbela Chowk to reach Nishtar Road.
The citizens coming from Liaqat Abad can take a left turn from Teen Hatti to reach Martin Road.
The authorities also confirmed that on the morning of Muharram 9th, from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, the route from Liaqat Abad to Guru Mandir will remain closed.
Those going from Hassan Square to People’s Chowrangi have been advised to use Kashmir Road, Jail Flyover, Teen Hatti and Nishtar Road, while vehicles coming from Shahrah-e-Faisal will be diverted to Kashmir Road at the Society Light Signal.
The authorities also urged citizens to use alternative routes to cooperate with Karachi Traffic Police to avoid any inconvenience.
Metro Bus, Electric Bus services to remain suspended in twin cities during Ashura
Earlier, the Authorities decided to suspend Metro Bus and Electric Bus Services in Rawalpindi and Islamabad during the observance of 9th and 10th Muharram as part of security arrangements for religious processions and gatherings.
According to officials, the Metro Bus Service will remain completely closed from Saddar Station to the Pakistan Secretariat on both days. The suspension is aimed at ensuring smooth security operations and managing traffic along procession routes.
