QUETTA: The Balochistan government has finalised security arrangements for Youm-i-Ashur, on Saturday (today).

Officials said over 7,000 officials of police, Frontier Corps, Levies, and Anti-Terrorism Force had been deployed along the main procession route. Besides, troops have been put on standby to meet any untoward situation.

The Balochistan’s inspector general of police, Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, said the arrangements had been put in place to provide foolproof security to processions and majalis in Quetta. The authorities have also declared 24 Imambargahs as “very sensitive” and 23 as “sensitive”.

Mobile network services in 12 districts will remain suspended on Saturday from 6am to midnight. Helicopters will continuously monitor the movements of the Ashura procession.

CCTV cameras were also installed on the procession routes and their footage could be accessed in the control rooms set up at the Inspector General and DIG Quetta offices.

Officials said walk-through gates had been installed at the route of the main procession and people would be allowed to enter the procession through specific entry points and only after body search.

All hotels, shops and other buildings on the procession route have been sealed after being inspected by bomb disposal squads.

Security arrangements were also made in other areas of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Sibi, Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Mach, Jafarabad, Bolan and Zhob.

Later, Quetta police claimed to have picked up four suspects from the MeCongi Road area and shifted to unknown place for interrogation. DIG Ghulam Azfar said their phones would be sent for examination. After their arrest, security around Imambargahs have been beefed up, he claimed.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2023