KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Ashura was observed with traditional zeal and fervour across the province where all mourning processions culminated peacefully in all major cities and towns on Sunday amid strict security arrangements.
In Karachi, main procession originated from Nishtar Park and ended at Hussainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar. Prominent scholar Allama Shehenshah Hussian Naqvi addressed participants of the procession before it started its journey along the designated route.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah accompanied by Karachi mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Saeed Ghani, his adviser Senator Waqar Mehdi, Sindh Minister for Home Zia Lanjar, Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon and other senior officials took part in the procession at Naumaish Chowrangi, said a spokesperson for the CM House.
The mourners offered prayers on main M. A. Jinnah Road after which members of the Imamia Students Organisation staged a demonstration against Israel and the United States and other countries for their ‘anti-Islam agenda’ and ongoing atrocities against Palestinian people.
The route was completely sealed on both sides and all the participants were thoroughly frisked by scouts before they were allowed to join the procession while those who had come earlier to attend the majlis at Nishtar Park underwent at least three layers of security checks, all managed by the scouts.
All the shops along the procession’s route had been sealed by police since Sunday night, while police and Rangers personnel were deployed on rooftops for monitoring the procession’s movement.
A team of the Bomb Disposal Squad swept the route ahead of the procession. Buses were arranged at Tower traffic intersection for the transportation of mourners at the culmination of the procession.
In Hyderabad, central procession was brought out from Qadam Gah as per tradition though it started late by an hour this year and subsequently ended late at Karbala Dadan Shah. The procession was organised every year by Anjuman-i-Hyderi (1948) and at least 25 Anjumans were part of the procession.
The mourners performed zohrain prayers at St Mary’s convent school roundabout and afterwards, a majlis was addressed by Syed Wasim Hyder Zaidi and Allama Irfan Ali Kazmi.
DIG Tariq Dharejo, SSP Adeel Chandio and deputy commissioner Zain Ul Abiden monitored the procession’s proceedings from a control room set up in City police station.
Local chapters of MQM, PPP and several social welfare organisations had set up camps along the Station Road to provide relief to the mourners.
Another traditional Ashura procession was staged in Khokhar Mohallah and Saddar Bazaar.
In Sukkur and Rohri, dozens of processions were taken out which followed their traditional routes and joined the main procession that originated from central Imambargah amid strict security arrangements.
Majalis were held at several locations along the routes of the processions, where scholars shed light on the philosophy of Karbala.
According to a press release issued by Sukkur DIG office, 9,416 male and female police officials and personnel performed duties from the 1st to the 10th of Muharram.
Mayor Sukkur Barrister Arsalan Islam Sheikh said that Sukkur hosted the largest procession in the country.
In Nawabshah, several processions were taken out throughout Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar and Naushahro Feroze districts.
The main procession in Nawabshah emerged from Murtazvi Imambargah, which was joined by a number of small processions.
In Naushahro Feroze, the main procession emerged from Imambargah Baab-i-Haider and culminated at the same location where a majlis was held.
In Sanghar and adjoining towns of Shahdadpur, Sinjhoro, Jam Nawaz Ali, Khipro, many processions were taken out amid tight security.
In Mirpurkhas district and its towns of Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Tando Jan Muhammad, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Sindhri, Phuladyyoon and Hingorno, several processions were taken out from different Imambargahs amid tight security.
Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025