Ashura | Pakistan

Peshawar - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi reviewed security and administrative arrangements for Ashura in Peshawar, expressing satisfaction over the peaceful observance of Muharram and praising the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies and civil institutions.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday lauded the Ministry of Interior, security institutions and law enforcement agencies for maintaining peace and ensuring comprehensive security arrangements for Ashura processions and religious gatherings across the country.

BAHAWALNAGAR - Bahawalpur Regional Police Officer (RPO) and Commissioner visited Bahawalnagar district to review the security arrangements for Ashura.

Ashura processions across the country concluded peacefully on Friday amid elaborate security arrangements as thousands of mourners participated in Muharram 10 processions. Yaum-i-Ashura is observed every year with mourning processions and religious gatherings to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husain (RA) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680AD. The central procession in Karachi departed from Nishtar Park at around 9:30am. It concluded at Imambargah Hussainia Iranian after passing through its traditional routes. In Hyderabad, the central procession emerged from Qadam Gah Maula Ali off Station Road and culminated at Karbala Dadan Shah. No processions were taken out in Islamabad, but the main procession in Rawalpindi was taken out from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain in Taili Mohallah and culminated at Imambargah Qadeemi. In Lahore, the central procession emerged from Nisar Haveli and concluded at Karbala Gama Shah later in the evening. All mourning processions and religious gatherings in Multan and oth...

Mourners participated in Muharram 10 processions across the country on Friday in observance of Ashura. Yaum-i-Ashura is observed every year with mourning processions and religious gatherings to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680AD. Processions took place amid tight security arrangements, with 20,000 police personnel deployed across Karachi, along with Army and Rangers units and thousands of police personnel in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, mobile phone services and internet connectivity have been suspended in Quetta and other sensitive areas of Balochistan during the processions. Mourners holding portraits of Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei take part in a procession to mark Ashura on the tenth day of Muharram in Karachi on June 26, 2026. — AFP Mourners touch a horse symbolising the mount of Imam Hussain during a procession marking Ashura on the tenth day of Muharram in Karachi on June 26, 2026. — AFP Mourners march during a religious pr...

FAISALABAD - Provincial Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan, along with Chief Minister’s Adviser Zeeshan Malik, on Thursday inspected administrative and security arrangements for Ashura in Chiniot, directing the authorities to ensure exemplary facilities and peaceful environment for the mourners.

BAHAWALNAGAR - Bahawalnagar District Police Officer Bahawalnagar Muhammad Imran on Thursday visited Chishtian to review security arrangements in connection with Muharram-ul-Haram and Ashura processions.

FAISALABAD - Punjab Information Minister,Azma Bokhari on Wednesday met organizers of mourning congregations and processions in Faisalabad,reaffirming that the Punjab government had placed the peaceful,secure and well-facilitated observance of Ashura at the top of its priorities.

The federal and Sindh governments on Monday announced public holidays on June 25 (Thursday) and 26 (Friday) on account of Ashura. In a notification dated June 22, the Cabinet Secretariat said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared Muharram 9 and 10, falling on June 25-26, as public holidays. Meanwhile, the Sindh Information Department also issued a notification to this effect on social media platform X. The notification, issued by Sindh’s chief secretary, said. “The government of Sindh, hereby declares June 25 and 26, 2026 as public holidays throughout the province of Sindh, on the occasion of Ashura (Muharram 9 and 10, 1448 A.H).” It added that all offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils under the administrative control of the government of Sindh, except essential services, would remain closed. Muharram is a month of mourning, observed in particular by Shia Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where, amongst many, the grandso...

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has finalised a comprehensive security plan for the observance of Ashura (9th and 10th Muharram) across the province, including suspension and partial suspension of mobile phone services in selected areas to ensure law and order.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Monday announced that the Muharram 1448 AH moon was not sighted in the country. The first of Muharram will fall on Wednesday, June 17, while Ashura will be observed on June 26. In a notification, the ministry said: “In pursuance of the decision of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in its meeting held today in Lahore, the federal government in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Islamabad, hereby announces that the moon of Muharram 1448 AH has not been sighted.” “Therefore, the 1st Muharram 1448 AH shall commence from Wednesday, June 17, 2026,” it added. Earlier today, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported that the committee would meet at Iqbal Hall, Badshahi Mosque in Lahore to sight the Muharram moon, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Muharram is a month of mourning, observed in particular by Shia Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where, amongst many, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peac...

Vehari - Ashura was observed across Vehari with religious devotion, discipline, and complete peace.

An Ahmadi man was arrested on blasphemy charges in Punjab’s Gujranwala for distributing langar on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura) and sent to jail on judicial remand for seven days, the police said on Monday. A citizen filed a first information report (FIR), dated July 6, at the Satellite Town Police Station and said that the incident occurred on July 6 at 4:30pm. The case was registered under Section 298(C) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) which criminalises certain acts by members of the Ahmadi community, including calling themselves Muslims or referring to their faith as Islam. Muhammad Irfan, public relations officer to the Gujranwala city police officer, told Dawn.com: “The suspect has been arrested and sent to jail on judicial remand for seven days.” The FIR said that the complainant saw the Ahmadi man distributing biryani at a langar and “identifying himself as a Muslim and speaking and acting like a Muslim.” Langar refers to the tradition of distributing free food, often associated with religious instit...

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Almighty Allah and lauded the tireless efforts of Pakistan’s security forces and government institutions for ensuring a peaceful and secure environment during Ashura across the country.

For the first time in their history, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police used drone-jamming technology as part of security measures during Sunday’s Ashura processions in Peshawar. Yaum-i-Ashura processions in major cities across the country concluded peacefully on Sunday evening amid tightened security. A total of 4,836 processions and 5,480 majalis were carried out, with 12 processions taking place in Peshawar. Thousands of police personnel — including constables and police snipers — were deployed across major cities alongside emergency rescue personnel for the safety and security of mourners carrying out processions. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Qasim Khan told Dawn.com that drone-jamming technology was used for the first time by Peshawar police. “A drone-jamming gun was used for the first time during the Ashura procession,” he said. “With the help of Peshawar Anti-Drone System, drone cameras helped in jamming.” He noted that drones had been used by terrorists in the southern districts of KP. “Now KP police...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised the chief ministers of all provinces, as well as the leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), for ensuring effective security arrangements during Ashura.

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised the chief ministers of all provinces, along with the leaders of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, for ensuring strong and effective security during Ashura, ARY News reported. According to reports, Shehbaz Sharif made these comments during a meeting with Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi. The interior […]

Yaum-i-Ashura processions in major cities across the country safely concluded on Sunday evening amid tightened security. Yaum-i-Ashura is observed every year on Muharram 10 with solemnity to pay homage to Imam Husain — the grandson of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — and other martyrs of Karbala. So far, processions in Karachi, Hyderabad and Punjab have culminated, according to statements from senior officials. The Ashura procession in Karachi safely culminated at Hussainiya Iraniyan Imam Bargah, with a police update sharing that the head of the procession reached the imam bargah at 6:20pm. Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho praised the Karachi Police for excellent security arrangements during Muharram, according to a statement from his office. “Majalis and processions were organised at several places in Karachi, including Nishtar Park,” he was quoted as saying, expressing appreciation for the Traffic Police for arranging alternative routes for the convenience of the general public during the main procession...

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has reaffirmed the presence of religious harmony across the country on the day of Ashura, urging citizens to shun those inciting sectarianism.

The federal government on Thursday announced two public holidays on the occasion of Ashura.