QUETTA:
The Balochistan government has finalised security arrangements for mourning processions on 7th, 9th and 10th of Muharram.
According to Home Secretary Capt (retd) Hussain Durrani, eight districts, among them Quetta, have been declared sensitive.
Over 5,000 policemen and 21 platoons of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) would be deployed in the provincial capital alone, Durrani told journalists on Saturday.
One army brigade would be on standby in Quetta and aerial surveillance of processions would be conducted, he added.
The routes for the mourning processions would be scanned for potential threats, especially explosives, beforehand.
“Three control rooms have been set up and closed-circuit television cameras have been installed in 28 locations in Quetta,” said Durrani. Two of these control rooms have been set up at the offices of capital city police officer and Quetta commissioner. A third has been set up at the office of the home and tribal affairs department, which will monitor the situation of the entire province.
In addition to this, five FC platoons each will be deployed in Zhob and Loralai, eight in Kachhi, three in Sibi and two in Jaffarabad.
“The role of people is very important in ensuring peace. If people cooperate with law-enforcement agencies then there will be no law and order situation,” said Durrani.
The home secretary, meanwhile, affirmed that in case the federal government directed the suspension of cellular services or imposed any other ban in Balochistan then the provincial government would comply in letter and spirit.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
It is a truely sad state of affairs that in pakistan whilst one native community prepares to observe their religious/cultural practices this month, another will be plotting to cause violent disruption to it.