Hazrat Imam Hussain’s chehlum today

Published: January 25, 2011
Main taazia to leave Haveli Alif Shah at 9 am.
LAHORE: The main mourning procession, to mark Hazrat Imam Hussain’s (AS) chehlum, will be taken out today from Haveli Syed Alif Shah at 9 am. It will terminate at Karbala Gamay Shah at noon.

The taazia from Haveli Syed Alif Shah, in Bhati Gate, will pass through Masjid Wazir Khan, Akbari Mandi, Chowk Nawab Sahib, Mohalla Shiyan, Nisar Haveli, Chauhatta Mufti Baqir, Chowk Purani Kotwali, Kashmiri Bazaar, Chowk Rung Mehal, Paniwala Talab, Novelty Chowk and Bazaar Hakeeman before reaching Karbala Gamay Shah.

A majlis-i-aza will begin after Zoharain prayers and continue till Maghribain prayers. Maulana Syed Imdad Hussain Naqvi, Maulana Dawood Jawad Hussain, Maulana Muhammad Sibtain Naqvi, Maulana Mirza Sajid Ali will address the majalis.

Maulana Syed Waqarul Hasan Naqvi said that the Taazia was taken out to fulfill the rites of a funeral, which were not fulfilled at the time when Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions were martyred at Karbala.

Security

Two companies of Rangers have been called in and deployed in the city as part of security arrangements for the chehlum. A monitoring cell each has been set up at the city division SP office and security SP office. Forty-three static CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor the situation around Data Darbar while 60 mobile cameras will monitor different processions. The interior ministry has been requested a helicopter, which is expected to arrive early morning today.

City division SP Dr Shehzad Asif said tight security measures have been adopted. “Pillion riding will be banned till midnight on Wednesday. Old people, children and women will be exempted from the ban,” he said. SP (Security) Faisal Rana said around 500 Rangers personnel, 3,000 police officials and a three-layer security plan had been put in place.

Traffic plan

The City Traffic Office, on Monday, said that no traffic would be allowed from Saggian Chowk on Bund Road to Kutchehry Chowk, from Law College to Chaterji Chowk and Urdu Bazaar, from Masti Gate to Lahore Fort, from Ali Park to Taxali Chowk, from Milad Chowk through Androon Delhi Gate to Masjid Wazir Khan and Paniwala Talab to Rang Mahal. Lower Mall and its adjacent roads will also remain closed to traffic on Tuesday.

Diversion plans

Traffic entering the city from Shahdara will be diverted to Azadi Chowk and city railway station and that from Multan Road, Chowk Chuburji will be diverted to MAO College Chowk to Sanda and Bund Road. Traffic coming from the Civil Secretariat will be diverted to the Solicitor’s Office and LDA to Chowk Commissioner Office to DIG’s (Operation) Office on Out Fall Road. The heavy traffic coming from Kahna will be diverted to Chauburji, Samanabad Mor and Gulshan-i-Ravi. The traffic coming from Inner Circular Road will be diverted to Mori Gate, which will move in Urdu Bazaar, Chowk Chatterji, Law College and Nila Gumbad.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2011.
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