Country observes Muharram 9 amid tight security arrangements

PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: The central mourning procession in Peshawar was taken out from Imambargah Hussainia Hall on Thursday morning at around 10am as the country observed Muharram 9 to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. The central procession in Islamabad for the day is planned to be taken out in the afternoon from Markazi Imambargah Asna-e-Ashri while the one in Karachi was to depart from Nishtar Park and conclude at Imambargah Hussainia Iranian. Security arrangements and traffic plans have been made for the day. Karachi Karachi Traffic Police have devised a plan for alternative routes for commuters as some roads are remain closed for the 8th, 9th and 10th Muharram processions. According to a press release issued by the Karachi deputy inspector general’s (DIG) office, the city’s M.A. Jinnah Road will be closed to traffic from Gurumandir to Tower. It further said that the road from Jamshed Road to Gurumandir and Bahadur Yar Jang Road will be closed from 10:30am to 1:30pm on Muharram 9. Additional reporting by Manzoor Ali, Kalbe Ali and Imtiaz Ali More to follow