Muharram: Security tightened in Quetta

Police chief says extra law enforcers deployed in the city ahead of Ashura.

QUETTA: The police have set up four control rooms in Quetta to monitor the security situation during major processions between Muharram 7 and Muharram 10, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Quetta Abid Notkani told reporters on Thursday.

Talking to media, Quetta police chief said that 62 platoons of Frontier Corps (FC) and 190 of Police and Balochistan Constabulary had been deployed in Quetta to ensure order and peace, adding that the army will also be on stand-by.

“Control rooms are set up at the CCPO office, Police Lines, FC headquarters and the Commissioner’s Office to monitor the situation. As many as 38 CCTV cameras have been installed on processions’ routes,” he said, adding that 30 more surveillance cameras will be installed over the next three days.

The police chief said that main commercial areas will be sealed off a day ahead of the Ashura procession.

He said that the police are doing their best to protect the people.

According to the provincial Home Department, five companies of the army will be stationed inside the city so that they could respond rapidly in case of an emergency.

Naseem Lehri Commissioner Quetta said that law-enforcement agencies are collecting information about people staying in hotels and rented houses.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2010.