RAWALPINDI - The Chehlum procession of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala was taken out on Tuesday with religious solemnity amid foolproof security arrangements.
The procession, attended by tens of thousands of devotees, passed through its traditional route and ended peacefully. Small and big processions also emerged in the main procession from various points.
The main procession of Zuljinnah started from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain and culminated at Imambargah Qadeemi after marching on its traditional route. Besides sealing off all the roads and streets leading towards the main route of procession, a heavy contingent of police, Rangers, Elite Force and other law enforcement agencies guarded the procession. The troops of Pakistan Army were also posted on some points that have been blocked by district government to stop troublemakers from entering the city.
A helicopter kept on hovering over the route of the mourning procession for aerial surveillance and to counter any danger on the occasion. High rank police officers, including Regional Police Officer (RPO) Akhter Umar Lalayka, SSP (Operations) Mian Maqbool, SP Rana Shahid and others, moved with the main procession to observe security measures placed in for protection of participants of the procession. Similarly, the police adopted very strict security measures for protecting of small and big processions taken out in the city. No one was allowed to enter the processions during the way.
From City District Government Rawalpindi, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar Dall and other officers were present on the occasion to observe law and order situation. No untoward incident was reported during the mourning procession.
According to details, the main procession of Zuljinnah appeared from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain at 10:30am which reached Fawwara Chowk after passing Trunk Bazaar and Liaquat Market. The processions of Alam and Tazia also joined the procession.
At Fawara Chowk, Shiite Ulema paid rich tribute Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala and highlighted their sacrifices. Later, they offered Nimaz-e-Zohreen and performed ‘zanjir zani.’ A large number of participants including females and children started returning towards their homes after prayer. Then the procession culminated at Imambargah Qadeemi marching from Bazaar Kalaan, Imambargah Shaheedan-e-Karbala, Tyre Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Imambargah Shah Chanchiragh, Purana Qila and Jamia Masjid Road emerging small and big Alam and Tazia processions.
After reaching the Imambargah, a detailed sermon was delivered by the religious scholars in which rich tributes were paid to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). They highlighted the significance of Karbaka and recalled the sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his followers to uphold the supremacy of Islam.
Stringent security measures were adopted in and around the Imambargah Qadeemi as well as on the set route of the mourning procession. Over 7,000 armed personnel of LEAs, Rangers and paramilitary troops took part in keeping peace on the Chehlum.
The stalls of charity food and water were also set up at the route of procession.
The district government after the procession removed the barricades placed to seal the city. The citizens thronged markets and shopping malls for buying.
Except Raja Bazaar and its adjacent areas, the markets and shopping malls of all other areas including Saddar, Chungi Number 22, Tench Bhatta, Lalkurti, Dheri Hassanabad, Girja Road, Adyala Road, Kalyal, Shahpur Syedan, Jhanda Cheechi and Morgah were opened.