QUETTA, May 11: Security has been tightened for providing protection to the foreigners working in Quetta and other parts of the province.

Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, Inspector- General of Police Dr Shoaib Suddle said that following the Karachi’s tragic incident, the provincial government had taken special steps, including the deployment of law enforcement agencies’ personnel in plain cloths at all important places, including big hotels, airports, railway stations and bus-stands.

Police patrolling has been increased and check posts have been established in and around Quetta for checking suspected vehicles and people. All foreigners have been asked to inform police about their movement so that they could be provided with escorts.

“Special branch and other security agencies are jointly monitoring the situation on daily basis,” the IG said, adding that all small hotels and restaurants were under strict observation.

He said police were also providing security to minorities and their worship places in the all the major cities and towns of the province.

Replying to a question, Dr Suddle said law enforcement agencies had launched a crackdown on suspected activists of the banned religious groups and had arrested 82 people throughout the province.

“We have arrested them as preventive measures,” he said in reply to a question and added that all Madaris were also under strict watch.

He informed the newsmen that 550 new posts of constables had been created in the police department that had received over 5,000 applications. A recruitment board, headed by the deputy inspector-general of police, had been set up and a senior superintendent of police and the SP of every district would be members of the board, he added.