Youm-e-Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, was observed with deep reverence and religious solemnity across Pakistan on Sunday, as mourners paid homage to the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in Karbala.

Thousands of mourning processions and religious gatherings were held in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Multan, as well as in small towns and villages.

The day passed peacefully amid tight security measures enforced by federal and provincial authorities.

According to the Ministry of Interior, a total of 4,836 processions and 5,480 majalis were organised nationwide.

More than 1,300 areas were marked as highly sensitive, with extraordinary arrangements in place, including suspension of mobile services, imposition of Section 144, deployment of snipers, installation of walk-through gates, barbed wire barricades, and drone surveillance.

Karachi: The main Ashura procession in Karachi began from Nishtar Park after a majlis addressed by renowned scholar Allama Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi, who highlighted the eternal message of Karbala.

The procession passed through its traditional route and concluded peacefully at the Hussainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.

Water, milk, and sherbet stalls (sabeels) lined the procession route, while volunteers distributed nazr-o-niyaz and langar.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah conducted an aerial inspection and visited the command and control centre to review security.

He later expressed satisfaction over the peaceful culmination of the main procession and praised law enforcement agencies, local administration, and religious leaders for their coordination.

The Sindh governor took part in the preparation of Haleem in Islamabad and oversaw distribution efforts at the Governor House in Karachi.

Lahore: In Lahore, the historic Zuljanah procession emerged from Nisar Haveli and concluded at Karbala Gamay Shah, following its traditional route through various localities.

Over 8,000 police personnel were deployed for security, while extensive arrangements for lighting and sanitation were made.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz set up special camps along the procession route where food and water were distributed.

Maryam Nawaz praised law enforcement agencies and religious scholars, calling the peaceful conduct of Muharram in Punjab a “new benchmark for good governance.”

Over 108,000 police personnel were deployed in the province.

She highlighted that Punjab used cyber patrolling for the first time and maintained direct oversight of all security arrangements.

Religious harmony committees and Shia communities expressed gratitude for the unprecedented facilitation.

Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, alongside other cabinet members, visited Gamay Shah to review arrangements and expressed satisfaction.

Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar monitored security operations from the Safe City Headquarters, while cyber patrolling was carried out for the first time to curb misinformation.

Rawalpindi: The central procession in Rawalpindi started from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain (Teli Mohallah) and passed through Committee Chowk before concluding at Imambargah Qadeemi.

Over 8,000 personnel secured the route, which was sealed off with barbed wire, and monitored through CCTV and Safe City control rooms.

Peshawar: In Peshawar, over 10,000 police officers were deployed for security.

IG KP Zulfiqar Hameed stated that processions were being monitored through drones and CCTV, and anti-drone technology was also in use.

Multan: In Multan, all processions and majalis concluded peacefully.

Major processions emerged from Astana Lal Shah, Imambargah Zainabiya, and Harra Haiderya, and ended at their respective destinations.

Commissioner Aamir Karim lauded the district administration and security agencies for seamless coordination.

He noted that mobile sabeels, cold water sprinklers, and field hospitals were stationed along routes.

Cyber patrols were also deployed to counter fake news.

More than 4,836 processions were taken out across the country on Ashura, 5,480 gatherings were held across the country, and 1,301 areas were declared highly sensitive.

In Punjab, 3,025 processions were taken out while 2,502 majalis were held.

In Sindh, around 1,039 processions were organised while 1,040 majalis were also organised.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 257 processions and 735 majalis were organised. In Balochistan, 24 processions and 32 majalis were held.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi remained in constant coordination with provincial control rooms and briefed the prime minister on law and order.

He confirmed a nationwide crackdown on sectarian hate speech and reaffirmed that any attempt to disrupt religious harmony would be dealt with strictly.