More than 11,000 police personnel were deployed across Peshawar on Thursday as 9th Muharram mourning processions proceeded peacefully under stringent security arrangements. Mobile phone services remained suspended in parts of the provincial capital and will continue to be restricted on Ashura (Friday), while the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service was suspended for both Thursday and Friday as part of the security plan.
Main Processions and Routes
The main procession was taken out from Hussainia Hall Imambargah on Saddar Road in Peshawar Cantonment. Beginning at around 10am, it followed its traditional route through Kalibari and Fawara Chowk before concluding peacefully. Another procession commenced from Imambargah Sakhi Munawar Shah in Imamia Colony, Gulbahar, and passed through the Hashtnagri section of the Grand Trunk Road amid strict security checks.
Security Measures
Security forces sealed off Saddar Bazaar and adjoining roads with tents and barricades, while traffic on parts of the Grand Trunk Road was diverted to facilitate the movement of mourners. Streets and roads along procession routes were secured with temporary barriers and monitored by a heavy police presence. According to police officials, more than a dozen Ashura processions are scheduled to be taken out from various imambargahs in the provincial capital on Friday, most of them within the Walled City area, where heightened security measures have been put in place. Police said security had been provided to 62 imambargahs as well as mosques across the city.
Surveillance and Coordination
Bomb disposal teams and sniffer dogs were deployed to sweep procession routes and other sensitive locations, while CCTV cameras were being used to monitor imambargahs, majalis and procession routes. To coordinate security operations, police established a central command centre at Kohati Chowk along with six subsidiary control posts in different parts of the city.
Governor's Visit
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi visited the central procession route in Peshawar Cantonment before inspecting the Supreme Command Post at Kohati Chowk. During the visit, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Sanaullah briefed the Governor on security and monitoring arrangements. He informed him that Muharram processions and majalis were being monitored through an extensive surveillance network and that nearly 90 per cent of such events were taking place within the Walled City. Officials also briefed the Governor on the route and security plan for the central Ashura procession, reiterating that more than 11,000 security personnel had been deployed across the city to ensure the peaceful observance of Muharram.
