Much blood has been shed in Balochistan: CM Malik
11 November, 2013
QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Sunday that much blood had been shed in the province and now the situation should be changed. He expressed these views while chairing a high level meeting here on Sunday. He said security had been beefed up in the province to ensure peace during Muharram.
Dr Malik stressed the need for maintaining peace during Muharram-ul-Haram and urged the Ulema to play an effective role in maintaining peace in the province. He said that special arrangements had been made for the security of Imambargahs and Ashura processions.
He said the provincial government fully realised that anti-social and anti-government elements could disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the province.He said in addition to Quetta, security had also been tightened in other major cities and highways of the province.
The meeting was attended by Ulema of all schools of thought‚ provincial ministers and security officials.Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has already banned entry of 69 clerics from Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and Azad Kashmir during the month of Muharram. These included 30 Shia and 39 Sunni 'firebrand speakers' and they would not be allowed to enter the province during the month.
Four districts have been declared sensitive. According to home secretary, Quetta is highly vulnerable to sectarian attacks during the first ten days of Muharram. Threats to Mach town in district Kachi have already been reported. Seven coalminers from a specific sect were targeted there recently. Other sensitive areas include Nasirabad, Dera Allah Yar and Khuzdar.Security will be beefed up in these areas during the critical 7th and 10th of Muharram.
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