Strict measures to ensure peace during 7th and 10th Muharram

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA, Dec 24: Balochistan Government has completed foolproof security arrangements in the province for the Ashura processions of 7th and 10th Muharram-ul-Haram.

According to official sources, security personnel of Police, Frontier Corps, Anti Terrorist Force and the Balochistan Constabulary would perform security duty while Government had declared Quetta and Mach as most sensitive townships.

Sources said that over 5,000 Police and 51 platoons of Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies would be deployed in different sensitive areas while a brigade of Army would be kept on standby.  “Army has also established seven points which can be called during any emergency’, they added.

Sources said that survey of all routes, shops, houses and hotels had been completed from where the processions of 7th and 10th Ashura would pass while entry of irrelevant people on procession routes has been banned strictly.

“Close Circuit Cameras have been installed on all sensitive areas and procession routes while separate routes have been allocated for mourners to participate the procession”, they added.

They said that three control rooms had been established in Police Headquarters, Home and Tribal Affairs Department and office of the Commissioner Quetta Division.

“Control rooms will be linked with secret cameras through which the processions of 7th and 10h Asura will be monitored”, they and adding the Chief Minister would himself monitor the law and order situation.

Sources said that concerned authorities of Bomb Disposal Squad, Civil Defense and Fire Brigade have been directed to remain alert while proper arrangements would also be made in the hospitals.

Sources said that procession which would emerge from Mach town would be escorted by personnel of Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies while extra ordinary security arrangements had also been made in Mach.

They said that security forces deployed at borders with Afghanistan had recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions during last many days which were being smuggled to Quetta for carrying out subversive activities during Moharram-ul-Haram.

A few days back, Commissioner Quetta Division had a series of meetings with the elders and religious scholars and sought their cooperation for maintaining sectarian peace.

Most of the religious scholars pledged to extend full support to the efforts of the Government in discouraging the elements involved in fanning sectarian feelings during month of Moharram.