QUETTA: Tight security arrangements have been made across Balochistan to observe Yaum-ul-Ashura peacefully on Tuesday (today).
Over 8,000 personnel of police, Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies were deployed on Monday in Quetta and other towns and cities of the province.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove visited the central police office where a control room has been set up to monitor all processions which would join the main Ashura procession at Panjabi Imambargah on Tuesday morning.
Inspector General of Police Mohsin Hasan Butt and other senior police officers were also present on the occasion.
Official says shops in Quetta were sealed after checking by the bomb disposal squad
“The main traditional route of the Ashura Muharram, including Alamdar Road, Mission Chowk, Meezan Chowk, Liaquat Bazaar, Prince Road, MeCongi Road and Kasi Road, were completely sealed on Monday evening,” Deputy Inspector General Abdul Razzaq Cheema said.
He said all shops, markets, shopping plazas, business establishments were also sealed after completing checking by the bomb disposal squad in the presence of senior police officers.
All link roads of the main route of the Ashura procession have also been sealed by parking heavy trucks and deploying security personnel, he added.
The DIG said that personnel of police, Balochistan Constabulary, Anti-Terrorism Force and Frontier Corps have been deployed in and around the main route of the Ashura procession. Heavy contingents of FC and police had also been deployed at all sensitive Imambargahs, he said.
Three battalions of Pakistan Army would be on stand-by in order to avert any untoward situation in Quetta and other towns and cities of Balochistan during Ashura.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Langove said that the government had taken strict security measures to ensure peace and order during Ashura.
He said that CCTV cameras had already been installed at the route of the Ashura processions. Helicopters will also monitor Ashura processions.
Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2019
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