KARACHI: Before the main procession of 9 Muharram Al Haram in Shahr Quaid, MA Jinnah Road and other adjacent areas have been sealed and sharp shooters have been posted on the buildings.
The main procession in Karachi will leave from Nishtar Park today at 1 pm and will end at Hussainiya Imambargah through traditional routes. In this regard, strict security arrangements have been made by the provincial government and local administration, while the mobile phone service has been suspended in the places of the procession, places of meetings and the surrounding areas.
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According to the sources, the markets and shops of M Jinnah Road, Saddar, Empress Market, Regal and Lighthouse have been sealed and the streets coming in the procession routes have been closed with containers. According to the traffic police spokesperson, MA Jinnah Road has been completely closed for traffic, but Dow University Road has been opened to go to Civil Hospital. Only the vehicles on which the procession sticker will be displayed will be allowed to proceed.
The Sindh Home Department has also banned double riding of motorcycles, while a heavy contingent of police and rangers has been deployed for checking the roads. According to sources, more than 5,000 police officers and jawans are performing duties in the main procession, while constant monitoring of other places including sensitive areas is being done through CCTV cameras. Apart from this, sharp shooters have been deployed on high-rise buildings.
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According to police sources, the procession routes will be checked with the help of tracking dogs. Traffic police say that vehicles are being diverted to alternative routes to prevent them from going towards the procession routes. More than 1000 personnel have been deployed to maintain the flow of traffic.
According to the authorities, all small and large traffic will not be allowed to go beyond Guru Mandir. Traffic is being diverted from Soldier Bazar towards Coast Guard or Nishtar Road. Traffic coming from Nazimabad is diverted from Lasbela Chowk towards Nishtar Road and Garden. Traffic coming from Liaquatabad is being diverted towards Tin Hatti and Martin Road, Jail Road. Traffic coming from Superhighway has been diverted from Liaquatabad No. 10 to Nazimabad Chowrangi No. 2. The traffic coming from the highway leaders will not be allowed to go beyond the Khudadad signal.
