Security plan prepared for Moharam processions

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to deploy five thousand police and personnel of other law enforcement agencies as a part of security arrangements for Moharam, the first month of Islamic calendar in which followers of Shia sect of Islam mourn the death of Hazart Imam Hussen, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (SAW).

Quetta has been the center of deadly strife between the followers of majority Sunni and minority Shia Muslims that has caused the killing of hundreds of Shias hailing mainly from the Hazara tribe.

According to the newly devised security plan, the government had declared 17 Imambarghas as “sensitive” out of a total 54 registered Imambarghas present in Quetta city. Another 15 places where Majalis are scheduled to take place have been declared as sensitive.

On 7^th day of Moharam, 2700 policemen and 500 personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) will be deployed in Quetta to guard the religious processions. On the 9^th and 10^th of Moharam, when the risks of sectarian attacks is believed to be very high, the government has decided to deploy four thousand police and 760 FC recruits in the city. In addition, close-circuit cameras will be installed at 20 different places.

“All construction work will be stopped for ten days at buildings near the road from where the procession will pass for safety reasons,” said a government official, “on 17^th December, police and FC men will attend a march flag ceremony.”

The Balochistan government is making extraordinary security measures for the Moharam as year2009  has witnessed the target killing of several Shia Muslims in various cases of target killing in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, and its neighboring districts.

A meeting was held in Quetta on Saturday with Quetta’s District Coordination Officer Abdul Saboor Kakar in chair to finalize the security arrangements for the upcoming Muslim holy month. The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the District government as well as that of Chaltan and Zarghoon Towns. The meeting decided to repair all the street lights in the major parts of Quetta in the wake of possible terrorist strikes. Furthermore, the participants agreed to establish emergency Cells in Chaltan and Zargoom towns. The DCO also order the removal of all encroachments from Quetta. The government is also expected to order aerial surveillance of the Moharam processions to minimize the possibility of any violent assaults.