QUETTA, Jan 29: Law-enforcement agencies on Monday arrested about 38 suspects, including 22 Afghans, in different hotels and other places on the eve of Ashura.

“Suspected Afghans arrested in Quetta belong to northern Afghanistan and were staying in different hotels and places without legal documents,” said police sources.

They said that the Afghan nationals were being interrogated.

A high-level meeting in this connection reviewed security arrangements made for ensuring safe passage of Ashura processions in the city.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf presided over the meeting.

Chief Secretary K. B. Rind, Inspector-General of Police Tariq Masood Khoso and high-ups of other law-enforcement agencies were present on the occasion.

The meeting decided to deploy extra force around Imambargahs, sensitive places and the route of the main procession.

The meeting was told that surveillance cameras had been installed at sensitive places to monitor the situation.

The chief secretary and the IGP will personally monitor security measures and the Ashura procession.

Mr Rind told the meeting that law-enforcement agencies, health department, bomb disposal squad, civil defence, fire brigade and officials concerned were ordered to remain alert to cope with any eventuality.

“The route of the main procession of Ashura was handed over to the security forces after checking every shop, house and building,” Capital City Police Officer Raho Khan Brohi told Dawn.

He said that all roads and streets linking the main routes were sealed since this evening placing barricades and erecting fence.

He said that more then 6,000 personnel of police were deployed in and around the procession route and law-enforcement agencies had taken the control of buildings located along the routes of the procession.

He said that FC troops were also called out and deployed at important places while the army was also asked to remain alert.

“Army helicopters and aircraft would fly over the procession to monitor the whole area,” Mr Brohi said.