Qatal-E-Hussain Asal Mein Marg-E-Yazeed Hai
Islam Zinda Hota Hai, Har Kalbala Ke Baad
(Poetry by Mualana Muhammad Ali Jauhar)
Islamabad: Ashura (10th of Moharram), is being observed on November 15, 2013 with due solemnity and sanctity to remember the sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) and his companions in Karbala.
Majalis and mourning processions are being held across the country to highlight the philosophy of Karbala incident and pay tributes to the martyrs.
Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (11 or 13 January 626 CE – 13 October 680 CE) (3rd / 5th Sha’aban 4 AH – 10th Muharram 61 AH) was the son of Ali ibn Abi Ṭalib (final Rashidun Caliph and first Shia Imam) and Fatimah Zahra (daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) and the younger brother of Hasan ibn Ali.
Hussein is highly regarded by Muslims because he refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid I the Umayyad caliph because he considered the rules of the Umayyads unjust. As a consequence, he left Medina, his home town, and traveled to Mecca. There, the people of Kufa sent letters to him, asking his help and pledging their allegiance to him. So he traveled to Kufa.
There, his caravan was intercepted by Yazid’s army. He was killed and beheaded in the Battle of Karbala in 680 (61 AH) by Shimr Ibn Thil-Jawshan, along with most of his family and companions.[8] The annual memorial for him, his family, his children and his As’haab (companions) is called Ashura (tenth day of Muharram) and is a day of mourning for Shia Muslims. Anger at Husayn’s death was turned into a rallying cry that helped undermine and ultimately overthrow the Umayyad Caliphate.
Majalis and mourning processions are being held across the country to highlight the philosophy of Karbala incident and pay tributes to the martyrs.
Strict security measures have been taken to provide security to religious gatherings as the government has suspended cellular phone services in over 80 cities besides banning pillion-riding on motorbikes in various sensitive cities, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore and Quetta.
In Lahore‚ the main Zuljinnah procession was taken out from Nisar Hawaili at midnight last night. It would terminate at the Karbala Gamay Shah this evening after passing through its traditional routes.
In Peshawar‚ the main procession is being taken out from Imambargah Qissa Khawani Bazar after Zohar prayers. It will culminate at the same point after passing through its traditional routes.
In Karachi‚ the main procession of Ashura is being taken out from Nishtar Park which after walking through its traditional route of MA Jinnah road will be culminated at Hossania Imam Bargah in Kharadar.
In Quetta‚ the main procession of youm-e-Ashoor will be taken out from Imambargah Alamdar road today and will terminate at the same point.
In different parts of the country, a number of Alam‚ Tazia and Zuljinnah processions are also being taken out.
Security Steps
Over 25,000 personnel of police and Rangers are performing security duties outside imam bargahs for majalis and along the routes of processions in Karachi where aerial surveillance is also being conducted.
Karachi police chief Shahid Hayat has assured foolproof security across the city, with army deployed in sensitive parts of Sindh province.
Link-roads connecting to M.A Jinnah Road have been sealed with containers, with snipers deployed on roof tops along procession routes.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed to closely monitor activities on the procession routes. A Command and Control Center is overseeing the monitoring in Karachi.
In Lahore, a central control room has been set up in DCO office Lahore to monitor security measures on 9th and 10th Muharram.
The law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert throughout the country to deal with any eventuality.
