Islamabad, July 29, 2023 – Today, the tenth day of Moharram-ul-Haram, known as Yaum-e-Ashur, was observed across Pakistan with solemnity and reverence to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain Razi Allah ho Ta’ala Anho and his devoted companions in the historic Battle of Karbala.
In cities and towns throughout the country, mourning processions were taken out to mark the day. The occasion was solemnized with religious fervor as Ulema (religious scholars) and Zakireen (preachers) highlighted the bright and candid teachings of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A.) and various aspects of the Karbala tragedy.
Due to the significance of the day and to ensure the safety of participants, elaborate security arrangements were put in place to prevent any untoward incidents during the mourning processions. The law enforcement agencies worked in collaboration to maintain a peaceful environment for the mourners.
One of the largest processions was held in Lahore, where the main Zul-Jinnah procession commenced from Nisar Haveli, Mochi Gate, early in the morning. The procession followed its traditional route through significant landmarks such as Kashmiri Bazaar, Masjid Wazir Khan, Rang Mahal, Paniwala Talab, Bazaar Hakiman, Taksali, and Bhati Gate, culminating at Karbala Gamay Shah late at night. Along the way, the mourners attended Majalis-e-Azadari (mourning congregations) at key locations, where they expressed their deep sentiments and aspirations with Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions by performing self-flagellation.
The Lahore Police ensured foolproof security measures for the procession, including a three-layer security setup, installation of walk-through gates, CCTV cameras, and drone surveillance along the route. Snipers were also deployed on rooftops to monitor the situation closely.
In Rawalpindi, the main procession of the tenth of Muharram was taken out from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain and followed its traditional route, culminating at Qadeemi Imambargah.
Similarly, in Karachi, numerous Majalis were held throughout the city, and various mourning processions, including Tazia and Zuljinnah processions, headed towards their designated locations. The main procession on M.A. Jinnah Road concluded at Imambargah Hussainian Iranian Kharadar.
Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, visited the Command and Control Centre of the Central Police Office in Karachi to oversee security arrangements. He also monitored the movement of processions through CCTV cameras and inspected the Search App, which can identify and provide details of individuals through fingerprints, particularly useful to determine whether a person is a native or a foreigner.
In Peshawar, the main Alam, Tazia, and Zuljinah procession of the 10th of Muharram started from Imam Bargah Agha Syed Ali Shah Qissa Khwani Bazaar and later joined by ten other processions from different Imam Bargahs. The procession traversed its traditional route and returned to its starting point in the evening.
Similar processions of Tazia, Alam, and Zuljinah were observed in various other cities and districts of the country, including Kohat, Khyber, Bannu, Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Kurram, and Dera Ismail Khan, where extensive security arrangements were made to ensure peace and safety.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Taazia, Alam, and Zuljinnah processions were taken out in all major and minor cities. The main procession was taken out from Markazi Imam Bargah Pir EIam Shah Bukhari in Muzaffarabad and passed through Madina Market before culminating at the same Imam Bargah. Sham-e-Ghariban, the evening of grief, was observed at the central Imam Bargah later in the night. The AJK administration deployed around five thousand security personnel across the territory to maintain peace, and mobile telephone service was temporarily suspended to prevent any untoward incidents.
In Gilgit, the main procession started from Central Mosque and followed its traditional route, concluding at the same location in the afternoon. The participants offered Zohareen prayers at Capt Zameer Abbas Chowk in the city at noon. To ensure security during the processions, the Gilgit Baltistan administration deployed 3,000 personnel of law enforcement agencies across the province.
Majalise Shame Gheribian, a gathering to mourn the tragedy of Karbala, was planned to be held in various imambargahs across the country during the night.
Yaum-e-Ashur remains a significant day for Muslims worldwide, especially for the Shia community, as they pay their respects and reflect on the enduring lessons of sacrifice, bravery, and unwavering commitment to truth and justice exemplified by Hazrat Imam Hussain and his followers in Karbala.
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