KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that foolproof security during the 9th and 10th Muharram must be maintained. “We have been holding regular meetings on the security of Muharram and have personally visited the route of main procession, therefore there should not be any issue as far as security is concerned.”
This he said while presiding over a meeting on security of 9th and 10th Muharram majalis and processions here at the CM House Monday. The meeting was attended by Advisor to CM on Law Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, IG Police AD Khwaja, Additioanl IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher Home Secretary and others.
The IG Police AD Khwaja said that on 9th Muharram there would be 528 majalis, including 39 of Sunnis. Similarly on 10th Muharram there would be 403 majalis, including 23 to be held by Sunnis. Similarly, there would be 279 processions on 9th Muharram and 289 on 10 Muharram in the city.
The IGP said that over all a force of 25,674, including 22381 policemen, 389 lady police, 2778 razakars would be deployed on 10th Muharram.
Giving details of the 9th Muharram procession, the IG police said on 9th Muharram at 8am a procession would be taken out from Bab-e-Fatima Imambargah and enter into the area of district East from Teen Talwar. The route of procession from Babe Fatima Imambargah via Liaquatabad No. 10 would take u-turn towards Teen Hatti, Liaquatabad Dak Khana, Teen Hatti, Jahangir Road – Shah-e-Najaf Imam Bargah, Martin Quarters, Jamia Binori, Gru Mandar, Bahaduryar Jung Road, Soldier Bazaar and Nishtar Park where it would merge into main procession.
The main procession would start from Nishtar Park at about 12 noon. Its route is Nishter Park to Purani Nomasih, Saddar Empress Market, Regal Chowk, M.A Jinnah Road- Denso Hall- Denso Hall to Bolton Market, Plastic Market, Hussainian Iranian Imambargah. The mourners would offer Zohrian prayers at Ali Raza Imam Bargah at M.A Jinnah Road and it would end at Hussainian Iranian Kharadar.
He said that the 10th Muharram procession would start from Nishtar Park at 10 am. Its route would be from Nishtar Park to Puurani Numaish, Sadddar Empress Market, Regal Chowk, M.A Jinnah Road, Denso Sall, Bolton Market, Plastic Market Hussain Iranian Imambargah. They would offer Zohrain prayer at Tibet Center at 1.30pm. The procession would end at 6pm.
AD Khwaja also briefed the chief minister about the flash points of the main procession and also said that extra-ordinary security arrangements have been made there. He said that there were four platoons of reserve force which would be deployed at Nishter Park, Numaish Chowrangi, Imambargah Ali Raza, Capri Cinema, Saddar Dawakhana, Empress Market, Regal Chowk, Tibet Center, Saeed Manzil, Radio Pakistan, Eidgah Market, Ligh House, Bolton Market, Bara Imambargah, Baghdadi, Khradar and Hussainian Iranina Imambargah.
AIG Karachi Mushtaq Maher said that on 10th Muharram main Tazia procession joined by small Tazias reaching from different parts of the city converge on M.A Jinnah Road and proceed to Native Jetty straight via M.A Jinnah Road.
He said that large contingent of police act as buffer to maintain safe distance.
The chief minister said that mostly people do not follow traditional route and a wide gap develops between head and tail of the procession. This must be protected properly. “I would suggest that gap may not be allowed to develop,” he said. He also discussed evacuation plan in case of any untoward incident.
