QUETTA: The central Chehlum procession commemorating the martyrs of Karbala began at 10:00 a.m. today from Alamdar Road, led by Balochistan Shia Conference President Ashiq Hussain. The procession will pass through Toghi Road and Yadgar Khan Road before concluding at the Hazara Cemetery.
According to officials, over 2,000 personnel from the police and Frontier Corps (FC) have been deployed along the route to ensure security. The Pakistan Army is also on standby to respond to any untoward incident. The provincial Home Department confirmed that, due to security concerns, mobile phone and PTCL services have been suspended in certain parts of the city.
The Chehlum, observed 40 days after Ashura, marks the culmination of the mourning period for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. In Quetta, the event carries significant religious and cultural importance, particularly among the Hazara Shia community, and has historically required extensive security measures due to threats of sectarian violence.
