Muharram updates: Pakistan on red alert ahead of processions

KARACHI / LAHORE: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar placed the entire country on red alert Monday for the mourning processions of Ashura, a flashpoint for sectarian violence, a day after the country’s deadliest bombing in more than a year killed 57 people.

A suicide bomber struck at the main Pakistan-India border crossing on Sunday, causing carnage among crowds leaving the colourful daily ceremony to close the Wagah frontier post, near Lahore.

At least two different factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the attack — the first major strike since the army launched an offensive against militant strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency in June.

Later on Monday, a low-key flag lowering ceremony was held at the border with a surprisingly large crowd at the border despite the fatal attack.

7:44pm

Security in Quetta remained on high alert on Monday for mourning processions of Ashura.

Heavy contingents of Frontier Corps, police, Balochistan Constabulary, Anti-Terrorism Force and Balochistan Levies were deployed in the city.

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A little girls rests on the shoulders of her father during 9 Muharram-ul-Haram procession in G-6 on Monday. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS

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 7:09pm

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain censured the government on Monday for lacking the intelligence resources and capacity to deal with the deteriorating  law and order situation.

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6:39pm

Mobile phone services have been restored in certain parts of Karachi, Express News reports.

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6:22pm

DIG South Abdul Khaliq Shaikh has said there is a possibility of suicide attack on the Muharram procession in Karachi, Express News reports.

“16,000 police and 5,000 Rangers personnel have been deployed for security in the city.”

REPORT BY ; FARHAD JAN

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