Cities fortified as Muharram security tightened

PESHAWAR/QUETTA: Authorities in Peshawar have ordered the closure of all markets in the historic inner city for four days during Muharram, while the Balochistan government has placed 17 districts under heightened surveillance as part of a province-wide security plan for the observance.

In Peshawar, key commercial areas including Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Kohati Bazaar, Peepal Mandi, Kochi Bazaar and Sarafa Bazaar were sealed with concertina wire and heavy barricades, halting business activity in the area. Police commandos and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the city, while a central control room was set up to monitor processions in real time through CCTV surveillance.

Officials said more than 20 mourning processions were taken out on the 6th of Muharram, following their traditional routes from various imambargahs before ending peacefully at their starting points. A senior police official told reporters that over 10,000 security personnel had been deployed across the city, with additional rapid-response teams stationed at sensitive points.

The official said command-and-control centres had been activated and that authorities were tracking gatherings and processions through video surveillance to prevent any untoward incident.