The Martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Ali (A.S) is being observed today (Thursday) across Pakistan with religious fervour and reverence amid tight security.
Majalis and processions will be taken out to pay tributes and homage to Hazrat Ali (A.S).
Heavy contingent of police will be deputed for security of mosques and Imambargahs besides round the clock patrolling of elite police force to avoid any untoward incident.
Police personnel equipped with metal detectors will check people at main entrances of all Imambargahs and mosques. CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates have also be installed at main entrances for security.
Traffic police have also made arrangements to ensure smooth flow of traffic on roads.
Karachi
The main procession would be taken out on M.A Jinnah Road. All roads and streets connected with the main road have been sealed with containers from Numaish Chowrangi to Tower.
Over 5000 police and Rangers personnel are performing during in Karachi where cellular networks has been blocked and pillion-ridding on motorbike is prohibited.
Inspector General of Police Sindh, Ghulam Haider Jamali, has asked Karachi police to ensure tight security to processions and majalis during Yaum-e-Ali.
Under the security induced contingency plan Karachi has been divided into three zones also encompassing different shopping centres where extra ordinary security measures are being taken.
He said Command and Control Centre has been set up for surveillance.
Lahore
The martyrdom day of Hazrat Ali (A.S) is also being observed in Lahore where a number of religious organisations will hold seminars, symposia and majalis to pay homage to Hazrat Ali (A.S)
A Tazia procession will be taken out from Mubarik Haveli Chowk Nawab Sahib which after passing through Mochi Gate, Bazaar Hakiman, Paniwala Talab, Rang Mehal, and Bhatti Chowk will culminate at Karbala Gamay Shah near Lower Mall before Maghrib prayers.
CCPO Lahore Muhammad Amin Vains told that police had made foolproof security arrangements, with 10,000 policemen deployed to perform duty.
He said visitors will be searched through metal detectors and walk through gates on every point.
Shops on the route of the procession will remain closed throughout the day.
Punjab Home Minister Col. (retd), Shuja Khanzada, says 184 processions and 752 majalis to be taken out throughout the province.
Shuja Khanzada said that Counter Terrorism Department had declared nine points of Lahore, eight of Gujranwala, 16 of Faisalabad, 46 of Multan, 13 of Bahawalpur, two of Sheikhupura, 11 of Rawalpindi, 25 of Sargodha, 8 of Sahiwal and 34 points of Dera Ghazi Khan as sensitive therefore special focus should be paid to these points.
Peshawar
Authorities have imposed Section-144 for three days in Peshawar in connection with Yaum-e-Ali (AS).
The pillion riding, use of crackers, entry of Afghans in the city and public gathering would be banned in the city from July 8 to 10 to observe peace in the city.
Processions would be carried out from different Imambarghas to mourn the death of Hazrat Ali (A.S), the cousin of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the fourth caliphate.
Quetta
Effective security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful observance of Yaum-e-Ali in the provincial capital of Balochistan.
Officials said heavy contingents of police, Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies have already been deployed along the traditional route of the procession to avoid any untoward incident.
Besides, the procession will be monitored through CCTV cameras which had already been installed and a control room to monitor the procession route had been established in Home department.
Police and LEAs teams keep pet rolling the roads in the city on the occasion and checking of vehicles entering and leaving the provincial capital are also being searched.
They said LEAs had foiled attempt to perpetrate terrorism on the occasion by conducting raids in surroundings of the city during which dozens of suspects were detained.
