QUETTA, Nov 14: Over 5,000 security personnel from Balochistan Constabulary, police, Levies and Frontier Corps have been deployed in Quetta to provide security to routes of Ashura procession in the city.

Balochistan Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said on Thursday that security forces were put on high alert to meet any untoward incident and fool-proof arrangements had been made in Quetta and other towns of the province to maintain peace on Youm-i-Ashur.

Procession routes have been sealed after searching every shop and house on the way. He said army troops had also been deployed in Quetta and more could be called out if needed. Military helicopters will fly over the Ashura processions as part security.

He said Friday prayers would be offered as usual in mosques on the route of the procession.

“Nobody will be stopped from offering Friday prayers,” Mr Bugti said, adding that the Ashura procession would pass through its traditional route.

The FC personnel would continue patrolling in and around the provincial capital.

Procession routes and other areas would be monitored through CCTV cameras installed on various locations. He said that control rooms had also been set up in Quetta for monitoring the situation.

IGP Mushtaq Sukhaira visited various places in the city to check security arrangements.