QUETTA, Nov 24: In an effort to ensure peace and order in Balochistan during Ashura (today), the authorities here have given final shape to their security arrangements.

Provincial Home Secretary Capt (retd) Akbar Durrani said on Saturday that around 5,500 personnel of police, Balochistan Constabulary and Levies Force have been deployed in the provincial capital.

He said that personnel of Frontier Corps had also been deployed in Quetta.

“Three battalions of Pakistan Army will be on standby to assist the administration in dealing with any emergency,” he remarked.

He said that all roads falling in the route of the main Ashura procession had been blocked by putting containers while shops and houses on Liaquat road, Alamdar road, Toghi road, Mission road, Prince road and Me-Congi road had been sealed after clearance by the bomb disposal squad.

He said that police and FC personnel who would give protection to the Ashura procession have also been issued duty cards for their identification. Army helicopters, he added, would supervise the procession throughout the day.

The provincial home secretary said that security plan had been devised and law enforcement personnel were deployed in districts, including Quetta, Kachhi Bolan, Sibi, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Zhob, Loralai and Lasbela.

Mr Durrani added that a ban had been imposed on pillion riding, vehicles with tinted glasses and display and carrying of arms across the province.

The home secretary said that a control room had been set up at CCPO Quetta office which had been linked with 24 security cameras installed on the routes of the processions.

He added that two more control rooms have also been set up at commissioner and deputy commissioner office in Quetta while a fourth control room, set up in the home department, would remain integrated with all other control rooms to keep an eye on security duties.

Special reserve force had been deployed on routes of the processions and around the Imambargahs.