QUETTA: Shiite Muslims attend a procession to mark the end of the forty day mourning period following the anniversary of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson and one of Shiite Islam’s most beloved saints, in Quetta Balochistan,

The chehlum of Imam Hussain was observed on Sunday across the country amid strict security measures taken by the federal and provincial law enforcement authorities.

The chehlum observance takes place 40 days after the Day of Ashura and commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet’s grandson and his companions by the Umayyad army in Karbala.

Balochistan’s capital city Quetta saw a heavy deployment of security personal especially in the areas through which the procession passed. All roads leading to the route of the procession remained closed and walkthrough gates were installed at several entry points to prevent unwarranted entry. Security was beefed up throughout procession routes and traffic police were assigned to divert traffic away from the procession’s route.

According to details, processions were held in Hazara Town and Marri Abad, as more than six thousand security personnel was deployed including 4500 policemen at the routes of processions.

Participants of profession Marched through streets, Alamdar road, Taj road, Yazdaan road and then to Alamdar road where it ended at Bahasht e Zainab graveyard.

The mobile service also remained suspended in Quetta city amid security concerns. Strict measures were taken in other cities of Balochistan during the processions.