KARACHI – At least 20,000 law enforcers manned ninth Muharram processions in the city. Besides, Shia organisations and scouts groups also contributed to safety measures for mourners and participants of the religious processions taken out to pay reverence to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) on Saturday.
In the wake of possible terror threats from banned outfits, stringent security checks were put in place by the security agencies.  Choppers hover overhead the routes of the central Muharram procession, which was taken out from Nishtar Park to Hussainian Iranian Imambargah, for aerial surveillance, with snipers positioned on roofs of several buildings. 
The procession routes were sealed off by placing containers near Guru Mandir.  Sniffer dogs kept sweeping the routes on the top of the procession. Among the mourners were plainclothesmen, who caught several suspects that were released after interrogation.
Markets and shops falling on the procession route and adjoining roads were completely sealed off and were under monitoring of police officials.  An entrance point was set up from where participants could join the procession after being frisked thoroughly with the help of metal detectors.
Several small processions, taken out from different parts of the city, amalgamated in the central procession at Nishter Park.
IG Sindh Fayyaz Leghari made whirlwind tours of sensitive points on the procession route along with other senior police officials.
According to law enforcers, all 537 majalis and more than 100 processions, including the central procession, were under complete surveillance. They said law personnel were in constant contact with the command and control centre for rapid response.
Scouts of different organisations also performed duties during the procession and did not allow vehicles to ply on MA Jinnah Road.  Security was tightened extraordinarily from Gru Mandir to Kharader, but law enforcement agencies were not seen anywhere in the city except MA Jinnah Road.