The big and small Muharram processions were taken out amid stringent security measures and culminated after passing through its designated route.
A total of 80 Zuljinnah and mourning processions were taken out from different localities of the city on Youm-i-Ashur in Rawalpindi city and its adjacent areas.
The Ashura processions from different localities, first gathered at the Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain and after passing through traditional routes, the main procession culminated peacefully at the Qadeemi Imambargah.
This time, strict security measures were adopted for the security of the mourning procession and complete route was covered by the security personnel, which passed through the traditional route of Jamia Masjid Road, Sarafa Bazaar, Fawara Chowk, College Road, Liaquat Road, Bhabra Bazaar, Committee Chowk, Trunk Bazaar, Bara Market and Banni Chowk. A large number of sabeels of water ,milk and langar were arranged for the mourners.
The major Zuljinah and Maatmi processions were appeared from Gora Syedan, Shahpur, Jhangi Syedan, Dhoke Syedan, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town, Shakrial, Sihala, Dhama Syedan, Dhoke Juma, Gorakhpur, Girja Village, Adiala Road, Shah Piyara, Shah Chan Chiragh, Shah Nazar Bridge and Dhoke Awan.
According to the city district government, the local management ensured presence of doctors and ambulances on all traditional routes to provide first aid to the mourners.
The Rescue 1122 staffers and Civil Defence officials were also present on the occasion to provide necessary assistance to the mourners.
Walkthrough gates were installed besides extra-ordinary security arrangements at the sites of majalis and imambargahs to maintain security.
Police were present along all the mourning procession routes.
Security officials were deployed on the rooftops of buildings and along roadsides to avoid any untoward incident.
Hospitals were directed to remain alert for any emergency situation and provide relief to the mourners.
Besides air surveillance by army helicopters during Zuljinnah processisons, more than 6500 police personnel were deployed in the city for the security of more than 80 processions and worship places already declared ‘highly sensitive’ on Ashura.
The main Zuljinnah procession was given a box formation security.
Police personnel, including 15 sections of Elite Force commandos, 260 personnel from special branch, 106 bomb disposal experts and women police personnel were deployed for the security of Ashura processions.
2,000 personnel of Punjab Constabulary were also performing security duty, while Pakistan Army troops and Rangers remained on stand-by position. More than 16 sniffer dogs with their trainers were deployed along the routes of processions to detect explosives en route.
The entry of the participants of the processions was allowed through walk-through gate while no vehicle was permitted entry into the processions. Parking of vehicles was allowed 500-metre away from the procession and nobody was allowed to park his vehicle near Imambargahs or any other worship place.
A central control room was set up in the Police Lines to monitor the processions and coordinate with the police deployments.
Meanwhile, the city traffic police had devised a separate traffic plan to facilitate the Ashura processions and a control room was also set up at the traffic headquarters.
