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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Mukhtar a Biograghy Chapter 18 - Mukhtar Becomes Governor of Kufa Mukhtar and Ibrahim decide that the best way to get the local perpetrators (of Kerbala) in Kufa, taking into account that these killers are now influential and prominent in Kufa, is to gain control of the government, and this meant storming the governor's (Abdulla Muti) palace.

A plan is agreed that on the eve of 14 Rabil Awwal 66 AH, Thursday night, all of Mukhtar's and Ibrahim's supporters will leave their homes and assemble at the governor's palace to overthrow him; the signal will be a torch lit on Mukhtar's roof and the sounding of war drums; after seeing the first torch, a chain of torches will be lit on the supporters' house roofs to spread the signal; each group of supporters is to carry the banner: "Ya ala siratil Husein"; the men were warned not to be fooled by a possible enemy ploy and hence nobody should come out before the agreed Thursday night.

Ayaz Mazarib, the chief policeman of Kufa, gets reports that for the past few nights, Ibrahim and a group are meeting at Mukhtar's house; he suspects that something is being planned and reports to Abdulla Muti on 13 Rabil Awwal, the night before the planned revolution day; on the same night of receiving Ayaz's report, Abdulla Muti orders checkpoints at all (about ten) districts in Kufa.

In those times, the geographical layout of a city was such that towns, districts, areas, and even clans had distinct boundaries with only one road to a neighbouring district; this ensured that there was free movements within the area but going from one area to the next required to pass through the only inter-connecting road; this layout was a security precaution against the frequent hostile incursions at the time.

The guards were therefore posted at these main inter­connecting roads, to restrict movement of people from one area to another. Ibrahim and his group leave their locality to go to Mukhtar's house in another district to finalise plans for the next night's attack; they are challenged by Ayaz Mazarib, the chief of police, at a checkpoint and in order to get through, Ibrahim kills Ayaz; Ayaz's subordinates escape to report back to Abdulla Muti.