ISLAMABAD: Authorities have taken strict security measures across Pakistan as the country observes the ninth day of Muharram to honor the sacrifices of Husain ibn Ali (RA) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala.
Muslims gather in large numbers and take out processions across the country in the first month of the lunar Islamic calendar to mourn the death of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the last quarter of the seventh century.
Cellphone services have been suspended in all major cities and security personnel deployed in different areas where mourning processions are scheduled to take place.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said in a statement that the supreme sacrifice in Karbala taught everyone a lesson to firmly stand against tyranny and injustice.
Traditionally, some of the biggest mourning processions are taken out in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi.
However, the activity may get disrupted this year due to monsoon rains and flooding, though the authorities have still taken security measures to prevent any unfortunate incident.
