QUETTA: The provincial police will deploy at least 7000 personnel to guard Muharram-ul-Haram processions in the provincial capital to prevent any untoward incident, said a senior police official.

Quetta Deputy Inspector-General Police Abdul Razzaq Cheema, during a press conference, hinted towards the possible use of Afghan soil by "the enemy" to conduct terrorist attacks in the province.

"Law enforcement agencies are placed on high alert to avert any untoward incident during the month of Muharram," he said.

Cheema added that Frontier Corps will also be deployed at all the sensitive areas of the city.

The provincial government has sought Ministry of Interior's support for aerial surveillance by army helicopters during processions in the city. Mobile services will also be suspended on Wednesday.

"Sweeping of procession routes would also be conducted", Cheema said, adding that secret cameras were also be installed at sensitive points to monitor the situation.

A control room has also been established to monitor the entire procession in the city.

On Tuesday, at least four women belonging to the ethnic Hazara Shia community were killed and one injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a bus on Kirani road near Pud Gali Chowk area of the provincial capital.

"The bus was stopped and the women were shot because of their ethnicity," said provincial government's spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar.

A senior police official also confirmed to Dawn.com that the deceased women belonged to the ethnic Hazara Shia minority community and were allegedly targeted due to their sect.

"It was a public transport bus and had eight women on board, out of which five were hit during the attack," Cheema had said.