- Punjab CS, IG Police and Home Secretary review security arrangements for South Punjab’s biggest processions and majalis in Multan
- Karachi’s central mourning procession concludes at Hussainiya Iraniyan Imambargah in Kharadar peacefully amid tight security: police
- Islamabad Police implement a seven-layer security plan to ensure peace and public safety
- Mobile phone and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services in Peshawar remained suspended for Muharram 9 and 10
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/KARACHI: On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar, and Home Secretary Ahmed Javed Qazi visited Multan and reviewed the security arrangements for the central mourning processions and Majalis in the city.
CS Zahid Akhtar Zaman and the IG P also reviewed the monitoring mechanism for processions and Majalis at the control room established in the DC Office. The officers inspected the security arrangements for the largest mourning procession of Southern Punjab held on 9th Muharram in Mumtazabad.
The Multan SSP Operations briefed the CS and the Punjab police chief regarding the security arrangements and shared that all Majalis and mourning processions are being continuously monitored through CCTV cameras. Both the top Punjab officers also met with members of peace committees, community leaders, and organizers of mourning processions and Majalis.
Community leaders and members of peace committees appreciated the efforts and security arrangements of the Punjab government for maintaining peace during Ashura Muharram. The CS said that, on the direction of the Punjab CM, the Punjab Government has taken comprehensive measures for the peaceful observance of Ashura-e-Muharram.
The IGP said that full security is being provided to all mourning processions and Majalis during Ashura. Intelligence-based operations are being conducted in collaboration with the Special Branch, CTD, and security agencies. Full coordination is being maintained with religious scholars, procession organizers, all institutions, and stakeholders.
Control rooms have been established in all districts and continuous monitoring is being carried out through CCTV cameras. Additional IG South Punjab Kamran Khan, Additional IG CTD Waseem Sial, RPO Multan Captain (R) Sohail Chaudhry, Commissioner Aamir Karim Khan, Deputy Commissioner Multan Waseem Hamid Sindhu, CPO Multan Sadiq Ali Dogar, SSP Operations Ahmed Zaneer Cheema, SSP Investigation Multan Imran Mirza, and other officers were also present.
Punjab Police spokesperson said that on Ashura Muharram, 1691 mourning processions and 3903 Majalis were held across the province including Lahore. On 9th Muharram, more than 108,000 police officers and personnel were deployed for the security of mourning processions and Majalis across the province.
District-wise security for processions, majalis
In the provincial capital, on the occasion of 9th Muharramul Haram, over 10,000 police officers and personnel performed duty for 81 mourning processions and 386 Majalis. In Sheikhupura region, 98 processions and 124 Majalis were held; in Gujranwala region, 334 processions and 687 Majalis; in Rawalpindi region, 174 processions and 425 Majalis; in Sargodha region, 214 processions and 560 Majalis; in Faisalabad region, 260 processions and 436 Majalis; in Multan region, 155 processions and 345 Majalis; in Sahiwal region, 63 processions and 191 Majalis; in DG Khan region, 230 processions and 591 Majalis; and in Bahawalpur region, 82 processions and 158 Majalis were held.
Moreover, 30,000 community volunteers assisted in the security arrangements of Majalis and mourning processions. The IGP said that security across the province has been heightened and put on high alert during Ashura Muharram. The enforcement of Section 144 imposed by the Government of Punjab is being ensured.
The Punjab IG Police urged that people of all sects and religions should promote peace and understanding during Muharramul Haram in the interest of national security. Given the strategic situation of the region, strict vigilance is being maintained on anti-state elements.
Under the code of conduct for Muharram, strict adherence to the fixed routes, venues, timings of mourning processions and Majalis, and the Loudspeaker Act is being ensured. He further said that all activities are being completely monitored with the help of Safe Cities Authority and district administration cameras. CTD, Special Branch, Traffic Police, Dolphin Squad, and PRU, along with other field formations, have been deployed for Muharram security.
IGP Dr Anwar directed the officers that elements promoting hate content on social media must be strictly dealt with according to law. All district control rooms are linked with the central control room of the Central Police Office and remain in constant coordination. Dr Anwar said that the Punjab Police is receiving full cooperation from community leaders, provincial ministers, armed forces, Rangers, security agencies, and media in ensuring security arrangements.
ACTION AGAINST OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Furthermore, Punjab Police is also continuing operations against individuals promoting objectionable content on social media. In the past 24 hours, 25 incidents of uploading objectionable and hate content on social media platforms have been reported. FIRs have been registered in 20 cases and 15 lawbreakers have been arrested. Out of these, 14 incidents were reported on Facebook, 2 on WhatsApp, and 9 on other social media platforms. It is worth mentioning that in the past 6 days, 121 FIRs have been registered and 134 individuals have been arrested for sharing objectionable content on social media. IG Punjab said that individuals promoting religious hatred, incitement, and sectarianism on social media deserve no leniency. Dr Anwar emphasized that Punjab Police is ensuring strict action against those promoting hatred and objectionable content on social media.
Mobile phone services and BRT services suspended for Muharram 9 and 10 in Peshawar
In Peshawar, the main procession began at 10:00 am from Husainia Hall. The Saddar and Cantonment areas of Peshawar were completely sealed off, and commercial centres were closed.
Due to security concerns, mobile phone services was suspended for Muharram 9 and 10 while the city’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service has also been halted for two days.
Meanwhile, over 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed in Peshawar, while entry of Afghan refugees into the city has been banned for two days. Several major roads, including Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Khyber Bazaar, Circular Road, and GT Road have been closed.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed visited the mourning procession in Saddar area of the metropolis and reviewed security arrangements.
“There were 115 processions in the city and over 10,000 security personnel were deployed with 50,000 personnel deployed across the province,” he added.
“Fourteen districts of the province have been declared sensitive, eight as extremely sensitive. Paramilitary and army are performing security duties in the most sensitive districts. We are fighting terrorism, operations are carried out wherever necessary.”
He said the processions were proceeding as usual throughout the province.
Muharram processions held in twin cities under tight security
The main Muharram 9th mourning procession in Rawalpindi commenced from Imambargah Fatimiyah Chitian Hattian and concluded at Imambargah Colonel Maqbool after passing through Iqbal Road and Alam Khan Road.
All roads adjacent to the procession route were sealed, while commercial activity remained suspended in Landa Bazaar, Iqbal Road, College Road, and Bohar Bazaar.
In the federal capital Islamabad, the central Muharram 9th procession ended after marching through its traditional route under tight security.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Memon, speaking outside Imambargah Asna Ashari, said all arrangements for majalis and processions had been finalized weeks in advance.
Additional sanitation workers were deployed and drainage measures taken to handle last night’s rainfall. A mobile control room has been established for the first time, and street lighting issues along the route have been resolved.
DIG Islamabad Jawad Tariq said over 5,000 personnel from Islamabad Police and Rangers have been deployed. Multiple layers of checks are in place, with CTD commandos stationed on rooftops. Surveillance is being carried out using body cameras and modern monitoring tools.
Inspector General of Police Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said extraordinary security measures were essential despite the absence of specific threats, citing the religious importance and sensitivity of Muharram. The entire route has been sealed with containers and barbed wire.
According to the IG, security personnel have shown dedication over the past eight days, and the full schedule of the procession will be followed strictly.
Speaking to the media during the procession, IG Rizvi said the event is being monitored through surveillance cameras. Covering a distance of 3.88 kilometers, the procession returned to its starting point while the police remain on high alert until its conclusion.
A total of 4,100 officers were deployed directly for the procession, with overall security personnel reaching 5,800, including those assigned to traffic and rooftop surveillance.
A seven-layer security plan was implemented to ensure peace and public safety. 71 search-and-sweep operations were conducted in the 14 days leading up to Muharram, stated police spokesperson.
Karachi’s central mourning procession of Muharram 9 entered its destination of Hussainiya Iraniyan Imambargah in Kharadar on Saturday and peacefully concluded amid tight security, according to police.
Earlier in the week, Karachi Traffic Police issued a traffic plan for Muharram 8 to 10, outlining the procession routes as well as alternative traffic flows.
https://t.co/S7RRaUt1eU pic.twitter.com/HgIN0MZ3Sr
— Karachi Traffic Police (@Khitrafficpol) July 3, 2025
Stringent security measures are being taken across the country, such as army deployment as well as a crackdown on sectarian content and hate mongers, ahead of Ashura (Muharram 10), which will be observed tomorrow.
In Karachi, the Muharram 9 majlis started at Nishtar Park at 12:15pm, according to an alert from the police. “The number of participants is approximately 800 to 1000, and it is being led by Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi,” the alert read.
Another alert at 1:29pm said that the procession had departed the park, while another at 1:54pm read that head of the procession reached Aza Khana Zuhra, while the tail was still at Nishtar Park. A later alert at 2:16pm stated that the procession head had reached Shah Khurasan, with the tail still at the park.
The police said the procession entered its destination of Hussainiya Iraniyan Imambargah in Kharadar at 7:07pm with the tail still at Baghdadi Crossing. The procession concluded around 7:53pm.
Cellular services were also suspended in the areas adjoining the central procession’s route as well as the smaller procession’s routes across the city, according to a letter by the Sindh police chief.
According to the Karachi police chief, a total of 7,507 police personnel were deployed to monitor the main procession and its routes and passages.
“Expert police snipers have been deployed along the main procession and at the crossings and large contingent of police personnel, including senior officers of Karachi Police” is active, according to a statement from the additional inspector general of police’s office.
Traffic police personnel were also deployed to maintain traffic flow along crossings intersecting the main procession routes, as well as the alternative traffic routes arranged for Muharram 9.
Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Sindh IG Ghulam Nabi Memon and Senator Waqar Mehdi reviewed security arrangements for the procession at Numaish, Nishtar Park and the Hussainiya Iraniyan Imam Bargah, a statement read.
Lanjar reviewed the security package and received a briefing from the Sindh IG and met the procession organisers.
“Peace and order in the city is our priority,” Lanjar was quoted as saying. He also directed the law enforcement agencies to take foolproof security measures, according to the press release.
Meanwhile, Wahab said, “Cleanliness arrangements have been ensured along the procession’s passageways. Proper lighting arrangements have also been made in the passageways and around them.”
On Friday, more than 5,500 police personnel were deployed across Karachi for the security of 8th Muharram processions.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that 27,063 processions were taking place nationwide, with 7,598 majalis.
“Everything is going well,” he told reporters in Sukkur. “Sukkur has the largest procession, with approximately 1 million participants.”
The minister added that there were few blockages and praised the Sindh chief minister and other officials for taking care of the participants by arranging for special fans along procession routes, among other measures.
Mobile phone service suspended in several cities on 9th Muharram
Mobile phone and internet services were suspended on Saturday in various cities across the country as part of planned security measures for the 9th and 10 of Muharramul Haram.
The 9th of Muharram, observed to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions, was marked with due solemnity and respect nationwide.
Cellular and internet services have been suspended in Quetta, Sukkur, Dadu, Jacobabad, Kohat, Peshawar and other cities. The decision aims to ensure public safety during processions and religious gatherings. According to officials, services will remain suspended until 8:00 PM.
Extensive security arrangements have been put in place to prevent any untoward incidents.
Following the directions of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, a mobile control room has been set up for the first time in Islamabad as part of the Ashura security plan. The control room is capable of functioning independently of mobile networks, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring and coordination.
