Our Staff Reporters
MULTAN/MANDI BAHAUDDIN/KAMOKE-/HAFIZABAD/TOBA TEK SINGH/ WAZIRABAD/SIALKOT/BAHAWALPUR/SHEIKHUPURA - The faithful, from all schools of thought and sects, observed Youm-e-Ashura, the martyrdom day of Hazrat Imam Hussein (peace and blessings upon him) with great religious fervour and solemnity amide elaborated security across Punjab.
In MULTAN, Youm-e-Ashur, 10th of Muharram, was observed with religious fervour and solemnity in entire South Punjab region amid tight security on Sunday to commemorate martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein (RA) and his companions at Karbala in 60 Hijra.
Clad in black clothes, the mourners exercised self-flagellation with sharp knives mounted on chains, swords and other sharp tools. Besides youths, women, children and elderly citizens also flagellated themselves. The atmosphere remained peaceful as no untoward incident was reported from any major area of South Punjab region and the masses exhibited sectarian harmony throughout the day. The security was put on red-alert by the district administration in Multan as over five thousand cops and four thousand national volunteers were deployed to maintain law and order situation in the district.
The faithful brought out about 470 mourning (tazia and zuljinah) processions while 1608 majalis were held in different areas of Multan district on Youm-e-Ashur. The Ashura presented an ideal scene of religious harmony as most of the Tazia processions were taken out by Sunnis. The processions of famous Tazias brought out by the Sunnis included Ustad Wala, Shagird Wala, Ramzan Wala, Bakhu Khan, Bhedi Potraan, Kamtar Wala, Gilani Wala, Lodhi Wala, Saleem Uddin Wala, Khulasi Line, Rashid Wala and Ahmad Bakhash Wala, which terminated at Darbar Pak Mai. Similarly, about 36 tazia processions were taken out by Shia'ats and they ended up at Karbala Shah Shamas. 
The mourning and Zuljanah processions were brought out from Astana Lal Shah Mashhadi, Nasarabad (JHIK) Imambargah Jawwadia, Haveli Mureed Shah, Suraj Miani (ImamBargah Sher Shah), Hussainabad (Daulat Gate), Astana Koray Shah, Imam Bargah Azeem Shah (Thalla Sadat), Lal Kurti (Kashan-e-Shabbir), Kamangaranwala (Hussain Agahi), Kale Mandi, Imam Bargah Heera Hyderi, Imambargah Hussainia (Sutriwat) and some other imambargahs of Multan, which joined the main procession and ended up at Darbar Hazrat Shah Shams Sabazwari in the evening.
The Rescue 1122, health department and civil defence volunteers established special camps in various parts of the city, where quick first aid was provided to the mourners injured during flagellation. The Mepco, Wasa and other departments also set up their camps to offer their concerned services. Later on, Majalis of Sham-e-Ghareeban were held in Imam Bargahs of Shah Gerdez, Lal Shah, Mumtazabad, Haveli Mureed Shah, Hyderia (Gulghast) and Hussainabad Daulat Gate in the night.
Police troops patrolled the city throughout the Youm-e-Ashur. Law enforcing agencies sealed Multan City and Cantonment areas while top security officials visited all areas along with other officials. Sources disclosed that dozens of close circuit cameras were installed on procession routes to keep secret eye on anti-social elements. Similarly, police sealed all the roads leading to the main procession route by putting barricades late on Saturday night.
Cops appointed at the entry points of Majalis and procession routes thoroughly frisked the participants with metal detectors. The entry of all vehicles had been banned in the sensitive areas and the parking stands were established at a considerable distance to avoid any untoward incident. Similarly, special pickets were established by police in different parts of the city.
The entry and exit points of Multan, Bahawalpur, Jhang, Bhakkar, Dera Gazi Khan, Sahiwal, Lodhran and Khanewal were heavily guarded by the police to keep a check on the activities of miscreants. Motorway cops also remained on patrol throughout the day on highways. The networks of all cellular companies also remained suspended for two days, Muharram 9th and 10th. The mobile phones went out of signals early on Saturday morning and remained suspended till late Sunday.
In MANDI BAHAUDDIN, the day remained peaceful and no any unpleasant incident took place in any part of the province.
Tributes were paid to Imam Hussein (peace and blessing upon him) and his companions for giving great sacrifice in fight against evil forces to raise dignity of Islam. Prayers were offered for integrity, prosperity of the country. Food was distributed among children and the destitute. The main Zuljinnah procession was taken out from Central Imambargah Hussainia amide strict security checks. Besides, several processions were arranged at Phaia, Malikwal and towns/villages. People in thousands accompanied the Zuljinnah processions. The mourners were reciting Nohas while using palms to beat their chests. Some were barefooted and without their shirts on. The entire routes were sealed off by the personnel of law enforcement agencies.
In Mandi city route designated for the procession had already been vacated and there was no traffic or vendors on it. Shops were closed. The police personnel were posted on rooftops of several buildings to keep vigilance over suspicious activities. The traditional route for the procession started from Central Imambargah Hussainia, Saddr Bazaar, Saddr Chowk, through vegetable and fruit market and it culmination point in Ward 5. People had set up sabeels for the participants of the procession.
SIALKOT, 154 Tazia, Alam and Zuljinnah processions were taken out in sensitive declared Sialkot district amid tight security and which passed through their traditional routes. The processions were terminated at the main Imambargahs in Imam Sahib Chowk, Adda Pasruriyan and the other Zuljinnah processions coming from the different areas were merged into the main processions at Chowk Shaheedaan Sialkot city. Thousands of mourners marched in the procession to express their grief by wailing and beating their chests and flagellating themselves with hands and knife-fitted chains. According to DPO Afzaal Ahmed Kausar, no untoward incident was reported from any corner of the district.
The Zakirs, Naat Khwaans and other religious scholars also highlighted the significance of the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussein and his companions for supremacy of justice and righteousness. Water and milk Sabeels were also set up to quench the thirst of the mourners. Sham-e-Ghareeban Majaalis were also held in which the faithful expressed grief at the treatment meted out to Hazrat Imam Hussein (RA) and his near and dear ones.
TOBA TEK SINGH, Ashura processions culminated after passing through designated routes peacefully in all towns of the district while Sham-e-Gharibaan were also held in the night at dozens of Imambargahs amongst strict security measures. Army jawana also remained on duty on the occasion while hundreds of Qaumi razakars helped out the policemen in maintaining the order. No one was allowed to enter into the procession except the mourners after a thorough body search from designated points. While addressing the participants of main Ashura procession at Milad Mustafa Chowk, Ulema and scholars urged the people to live their lives according to the teachings of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (SAWW) and his grandsons Hazrat Imam Hassan and Hazrat Imam Hussein (RTA). At Gojra a suspect was taken into custody by the City Police but later was released after interrogation.
WAZIRABAD, under elaborated security arrangements three main Zuljannah processions appeared in the city which was participated in by thousands of mourners. One Zuljinnah procession headed by S Waqar Haider Rizvi, appeared from Imambargah Muhajireen. Second procession was taken out from Imambargah Modi Khana and the third one was taken out from Mohammad Shah Sidaq which was led by Shabihul Hasan. All processions marching through their designated routes converged at Chowk Lahori Gate where another procession from Nizamabad joined it. Later the main procession entered Main Bazaar and marched towards its culmination point where where Sham-e-Ghareeban was organised.
Almost 25 Zuljinnah and 22 Shabih processions were taken out in Tehsil Wazirabad out of which 4 in Wazirabad, 4 in Gakkhar Mandi, 3 in Alipur Chattha, 8 in Rasool Nagar and 10 in PS Ahmad Nagar.  Though security arrangements were not exemplary but police took all possible measures to guard the processions. Police used all buildings on the routes of processions as OP Post and deputed police contingents on almost all buildings. Punjab Minister for P&D Ch Abdul Ghafoor and District administration include DCO Ch Muhammad Amen, DIG Inspection Team Lahor Abid Qadri, CPO Abdul Razzaq Cheema and Inspector CIA Gujranwala Gohar Abbas Bhatti conducted visits time to time to witness the security arrangements.
AHMEDPUR EAST, Ashura-e-Muharram was observed here with religious fervour. Tazia, Alm and Zuljinnah processions were taken out in Ahmedpur East, Uch Sharif, Mubarakpur, Chanigoth, Janowala, Naushera Jadid, Sukhail, Dera Nawab Sahib and other places which culminated peacefully. The main Tazia, Alm and Zuljnnah procession was taken out from Imambargah Noor Shah Bukhari which culminated at Karbala Chowk Munir Shaheed where Sham-e-Ghariban was held. The Circle police had made foolproof arrangements in Subdivision Ahmedpur East under the supervision of DSP Rana Naveed Mumtaz while Army troops remained alert in Dera Nawab Cantonment to meet any untoward incident.
BAHAWALPUR, Youm-e-Ashur was observed here with due solemnity as a number of Muharram processions were taken out from different parts of the city which culminated peacefully at Karbala, and Model Town where Sham-e-Ghareeban was held. A number of Alm, Zuljinnah and Tazias were taken out from different localities of the city which later gathered at Multani Chowk after passing through traditional routes where Zakirs highlighted the importance of the day and the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussein (RA). The participating mourners of the processions presented Nohas, Marsias and Darood-o-Salam on the occasion besides beating chests. The Bahawalpur Police and Rescue 1122 had made special security arrangements for the occasion. KAMOKE, all the processions of Muharram 10 culminated here peacefully.  The main procession started from Central Imambargah on GT Road under stringent security reached Imamia Hussainia Imambargah Mohallah Salamatpura after marching through designated routes. Hundreds of policemen and personnel of other law and enforcement agencies kept guard over the processions. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Sumaira Zaheer expressed her gratitude to Ulema and scholars from all schools of thought for exhibiting exemplary harmony and cohesion.
SHEIKHUPURA, Youm-e-Ashur was observed throughout the district with great reverence and solemnity on Sunday. The main Zuljinnah procession was taken out from Imambargah Gulstan-e-Zehra situated in Sultan Pura while dozens of other Alam, Tazia and Zuljinnah processions taken out different places of the city also merged into the main procession.
The mourners marched through designated routes and reached Darbar-e-Hussein from where it marched towards its culminating point Imambargah Kalan. Tight security measures were adopted by the administration. Unprecedented security measures were put in place for Youm-e-Ashura Muharram in all the four Tehsils of the district.
HAFIZABAD, the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein (RA) and his companions was commemorated in Hafizabad, Pindi Bhattian, Jalalpur Bhattian, Vanike Tarar, Madhrianwala, Thattha Masta, Kalianwala and other places, amid tight security, with religious reverence on Sunday.
As many as 58 Alm, Zuljinnah, Shabih, Taboot and Tazia precessions were taken out from different places on 9th and 10th Muharram in the district. More than 1,300 police personnel and officers of different departments remained alert under the supervision of DPO Waqas Nazir, DSP Tariq Warraich and Acting DCO Sohail Ahmad Khan.
KHANEWAL, Youm-e-Ashur observed with great religious zeal and fervour throughout the district and processions in all four tehsils of the district ended pacefully. The main procession of Muharram 10th emerged from Imambargah Anjuman Hussainia Block-11 after a grand Majlis. Many small processions also joined the main one on its way. Strict security measures were adopted to avert any untoward incident and DCO Nadeem Mahboob and DPO Ejaz Ahmad Rai personally monitored the security arrangements. ARIFWALA, Youm-e-Ashrua was observed with great religious fervour here in the tehsil in a peaceful manner.
The Alam and Zuljinnah processions were taken out from various parts including Qaboola. The main procession was taken out from central Imambargah in D Block while other processions emerged from Mohallah Ahmadabad and from Bhatta joined the main procession.
QILA DIDAR SINGH, main Shabih Zuljinnah procession was taken out from Bargah-e-Hussainia which marched through traditional route of Purana Bazaar to Main Bazaar and peacefully terminated at the starting point.