ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has confirmed that the two major coalition partners, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have jointly shortlisted five names for the caretaker prime minister’s position.
In an interview Khawaja Asif said the shortlisted names were only decided between the PPP and PML-N yet, and they have agreed to appoint a politician as the interim premier.
He expressed the hope that one name from the pool will be finalised within a week and consultations extended to other coalition allies for their input and endorsement.
The minister said that the crucial consultation phase will also involve discussions with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
He also stated that the final decision will be taken after consultations with the PDM chief.
Following this, Asif said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also consult over the name for the caretaker PM with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz in a meeting scheduled for August 2 or 3.
KARACHI: Yaum-e-Ashur, 10th of Muharram, is being observed on Saturday across the country to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in Karbala.
In this connection, mourning processions are being taken out in all cities and towns of the country.
Ulema and zakireen are highlighting the teachings of Hazrat Imam Hussain and various aspects of the Karbala tragedy.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made to avoid any untoward incident during the processions.
The main Ashura procession of Karachi departed from Nishtar Pak and after passing through its traditional route will culminate at the Hussainia Irania Imambargah in Kharadar.
The main majlis at Nishtar Park was led by Allama Shehenshah Naqvi, while the procession is led by a squad of Pak Buturab Scouts.
The participants of the procession will perform Zuhr prayers at Tibet Center. More than 4,500 police officers have been deployed for the security of the procession.
Rangers troops are also performing security duties, while mobile phone services have been suspended along the procession routes.
All adjacent routes of the procession have been completely closed for general traffic.
Before the procession commenced, the Bomb Disposal Squad searched the route, the police said, adding they are monitoring the route with the help of CCTV cameras
As per police authorities, Rangers and police officers have also been posted on the tall buildings falling on the route.
More than 10,000 personnel have been deployed for security during Muharram, the spokesperson said.
More than 3,000 traffic officers are on duty to guide the commuters.
Lahore
The main Zuljinnah procession from Lahore appeared from Nisar Haveli, Mochi Gate on Saturday morning.
The main procession marches through its traditional route, including Kashmiri Bazaar, Masjid Wazir Khan, Rang Mahal, Paniwala Talab, Bazaar Hakiman, Taxali and Bhati Gate.
Early morning, the Azaan Ali Akbar was held at Mohallah Shia.
During the procession, the mourners will hold Majalis-e-Azadari at main chowks of the route and also flagellate themselves.
The Ashura procession will offer the Zuhr prayers at Rang Mahal. Passing through the Bhati Gate, it will conclude at Karbala Gamay Shah.
Foolproof security arrangements have been made in connection with Ashura, as 11,000 personnel of Punjab Police have been deployed.
The procession is being monitored through 400 CCTV cameras and drones, while snipers have been deputed on the rooftops of buildings along the procession route.
Three operation rooms have been set up for monitoring the procession.
More than 125,000 police officers and personnel are performing security duties across the province.
In Lahore, more than 15,000 officers and officials have been deployed for the security of the main procession and majalis, the Punjab IGP said.
Dr Usman Anwar has instructed the police personnel to remain on high alert at the duty points, and ensure checking through CCTV cameras, walkthrough gates and metal detectors.
Women police officers have been deployed for security and checking of women mourners.
Commandos in plain clothes and snipers on the roofs along the routes have been deployed, the police chief said.
Special arrangements have been made to maintain the flow of traffic, Dr Anwar said.
Multan
The main procession in Multan has been taken out from Imambargah Heera Haideria.
In the city, 116 processions are likely to be taken out from which 21 have been declared sensitive.
Moreover, 130 majalis are likely to be held out of which 27 have been declared sensitive.
Strict security arrangements have been made for the processions, as 4,293 police officers and personnel are performing security duties.
Mirpur Khas
In Mirpur Khas, the main mourning procession of Ashura was taken out from Haideri Imambargah, and is proceeding on its traditional route.
Strict security arrangements have been made, while mobile service has also been suspended in the city.
In total, 42 mourning processions are likely to be taken out on Ashura, as per the police.
More than 1,700 policemen and officers are deputed for security.
Faisalabad
The main procession departed from Imambargah Azakhana Shabbir, while strict security measures have been ensured along the route.
The procession will culminate at Ghanta Ghar Chowk.
Moreover, 25 majalis and 153 processions will be held in Faisalabad. More than 6,000 personnel, including five SPs and 13 DSPs, have been deputed for security.
A control room has been set up at the DC Office, where CCTV cameras are being monitored.
Gujranwala
The main procession of Ashura commenced from Imambargah Golistan Marfat, while a rain emergency has been imposed in the city by the district administration due to the intermittent rain.
Sabeels have been set up along the procession route for the mourners, who are reciting laments for Hazrat Imam Husain as they proceed.
The staff of WASA is busy in draining rainwater.
CCTV cameras equipped with modern technology have been installed on the routes of the processions in Gujranwala to ensure complete security and monitoring of the processions.
The sensitive processions are being strictly monitored, while 46 processions and 39 majalis will be held across the district.
More than 4,000 police personnel have been deployed on the route of the processions.
Quetta
The main Zuljinnah procession of Ashura in Quetta that departed from Imambargah Hussaini in Nasirabad is peacefully moving towards its destination.
The procession comprises 38 mourning groups and is being led by Balochistan Shia Conference President Jawwad Rafi.
The first group of mourners has reached Mizan Chowk, as the mourners pay homage to the martyrs of Karbala.
To ensure security, 6,000 police and FC personnel have been deployed, while the route has been completely sealed.
Two battalions of the Pakistan Army are on standby, while mobile services have been suspended.
Sabeels and niaz are being distributed along the route.
The procession will reach Alamdar Road through the designated routes and culminate there.
Quetta DIG Azfar Mehsar told the media that the procession is underway peacefully. He said Levies, police and FC personnel have been deployed along and rooftops along the route.
The Pakistan Army is on alert to deal with specific situations, he said, adding the entry of unrelated people ne vehicles in the procession has been banned.
Control rooms have been set up at IGP, DIG, DC and FC headquarters offices, Mehsar said.
ISLAMABAD: Youm-e-Ashur, 10th Muharram ul Harram is being observed today (Saturday) with traditional religious solemnity and fervor to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and his companions at Karbala in 61AH some 14 centuries ago.
The Day of Ashura is regarded as the “day of struggle by righteous forces against tyrants” and is commemorated as a day of mourning for the death of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). Ulema and Zakireen at Zuljinnah and Tazia processions will highlight the philosophy of the great sacrifice offered by Karbala martyrs. The mourners resolve to follow the footprints of the great martyrs of Karbala.
Rounds of Nazr Niaz, Ziarat and a cycle of paying tribute to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) in mourning congregations will also be observed across the length and breadth of the country, in the Muslim world on Ashura day and wherever the Muslims resides in numbers.
Arrangements for sabeel and langar have been done for the mourners at various places. Water and milk stands for the mourners were placed at various points on the route of the processions.
However, heavy rain in upper Punjab – including Lahore, Gujranwala, Kasur and other cities – resulted in accumulation of rainwater on roads, causing great hardships for the hundreds of thousands of mourners who experienced the downpour in open air.
Processions have started in different towns and cities across the country from Gilgit to Karachi. In Quetta, the mourners began their journey from Alamdar Road while Karachi’s the main procession started from Nishtar Park.
In Lahore, the main procession initiated from Nisar Haveli, inside Mochi Gate, which will conclude at Karbala Gaamay Shah, after passing through its traditional route inside the Lahore Walled City.
Three control rooms have been established to monitor the route of the procession. 11000 police soldiers are deployed to secure the area along with several high level officials such as 80 SHO, several SSP’s and CCPO Lahore.
In Rawalpindi, the central procession of Ashura emerged from Col Maqbool Imambargah and after passing through its traditional route it will conclude at the Qadeemi Imambargah.
Similarly, a total of 12 processions would be taken out in Peshawar with 13,000 security personnel deployed and mobile phone service suspended.
Earlier, the procession for 10th of Muharram ul Harram also started in Daulatpur during the wee hours of the night and will follow its traditional routes.
In a manner similar to other parts of the country, Hafizabad district is hosting around 36 processions paying tribute to the martyrs of Karbala.
On the other hand, several processions planned in Kandhkot are now on the streets with people paying homage to the grandson of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) for the great sacrifices he made.
Security has been put on high alert on the routes of Muharram processions to avoid any untoward incident. Controls rooms have been set up and the procession routes are being monitored by secret and open security cameras. Heavy contingent of police and Rangers have been deployed to ensure fool proof security.
Police were deployed in all sensitive areas and roads leading to the imambargahs have been blocked and anyone who wants to join the mourners will have to pass through three layers of security.
Pillion riding was banned in Lahore and Peshawar to avoid any untoward incident. Mobile telephone service will remain majorly suspended in all main cities on the routes of 10th Muharram processions to keep law and order situation under control.
The commemoration of Karbala is to mark of the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, when Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad (PBUH), was martyred by the forces of the Umayyad caliph. He was martyred in the desolate along with his loyalists, children and all the men of his family except his unwell son Hazrat Imam Zain-ul-Abedin A.S. The cruel army of Yazeed arrested the women and children accompanying Imam Hussain and subjected them to humiliation, dishonor and tyranny.
The commemoration of martyrs of Karbala is considered as continuous battle and a revival of pledge to fight against the oppressor, tyrant, unjust, despot and tormentor.
Mourning observances include processions, congregations called Majalis-e Aza and observing fast is called Faqa, which is exclusively used in connection with the remembrance rituals for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions on the 10th day of Muharram called Ashura.
Hundreds of thousands of followers of Islam and devotees of Holy Prophet (PBUH) gather to pay homage to the martyrdom of his grandson Hazrat Imam Hussain and his zealous companion to uphold of Justice, Truth, Humanity and Islam – by observing mourning in Muharram and participating in the condoling gatherings and congregations amid tight security.
Heart-wrenching scenes of eyes shedding tears and people beating their bodies in the pain and grief while recalling what happened to the martyred grandson of Muhammad (PBUH) at Karbala was observed yesterday on 9th Muharram and the mourning will continue till next day (today – the 10th of Muharram). People were wearing the name of Imam Hussain (RA) on their heads and hands while observing the sorrow.
RAWALPINDI: The crackdown on individuals involved in the violent protests that took place on May 9 is still ongoing, with another significant arrest made by the government.
Seemabia Tahir Satti, a former member of the Provincial Assembly from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been apprehended in connection with the attack on important government facilities.
Informed sources privy to development said that Seemabia Satti was named in the case registered at Newtown police station in Rawalpindi, and she has now been taken into custody.
She has been shifted to the Women Police Station.
Meanwhile, efforts to arrest Raja Rashid Hafeez, the former provincial minister also implicated in the case, have not yet been successful. The authorities are continuing their investigation to bring all individuals involved in the violent protests to justice.
