The ministry of interior and various intelligence agencies have declared the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M 2) unsafe for VVIP movement, well-placed sources in the ministry told Business Recorder, here on Thursday. The intelligence agencies operating under the civil or military cover have warned that M2 could be dangerous for VVIPs and high government functionaries travelling daily between Lahore and Islamabad, the sources added.
They disclosed that in view of terrorist attacks elsewhere in the country, interior ministry has directed the National Highways & Motorway Police and ministry of communications to deploy paramilitary forces mainly Pakistan Rangers or Frontier Corps on M2 to avert any terrorist attack.
The military sources have also pointed out chances of imminent terrorist attack or act of sabotage on the Motorway and suggested that the NHA and Motorway Police should hire the services of Pakistan Rangers to avoid any eventuality, the sources added.
It is also learnt that the secret intelligence networks have also asked the ministry of communications and NHA to arrange the helicopters for aerial surveillance of the M 2 besides further strengthening of the road patrolling to curtail the terrorists' movement.
It is worth mentioning that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have so far arrested at least four suspected terrorists from different localities of Islamabad-Lahore Motorway couple of month's back. It was learnt that those nabbed were preparing a plot to launch an attack, but it is not confirmed to whom they wanted to target.
The increasing movement of terrorists in these areas has prompted the ministry of interior to order the NHA for deploying Rangers to ensure safe and secure movement of the VVIPs between the federal and provincial capitals, sources remarked.
Once considered as most secure passage for the people, the Motorway now has been converted into a big threat to the common people and government functionaries alike due to loose hold of Punjab Police in maintaining law and order in the areas from where the road is passing through.
On the other hand, the ministry of communications has categorically rejected the deployment of Rangers or paramilitary forces on the M 2, arguing that it would incur unbearable financial expenditure.
The ministry and NHA contended that they did not have adequate monetary resources to use the helicopter surveillance and to deploy Pakistan Rangers on the Motorway, the sources pointed out.
In view of secret agencies apprehensions about the M 2 security and interior ministry directives, ministry of communications wrote a letter to secretary interior for allowing the formation of Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), the sources said.
However, the secretary interior has forwarded the summary of ATS formation to the cabinet division for approval, official sources added.
Under the proposed plan of the communications ministry, NHA is expected to post ATS qualified officers/officials on Beats/ Camps/Offices of National Highways & Motorway Police to ensure safety of the road.
The ministry has also requested that appropriate number of seats for ATS staff might also be allocated to the NH&MP in the Training School, Simly Dam, Islamabad.
The National Highways & Motorway Police initiated policing on Motorway (M-2), Lahore-Islamabad Section in 1997.
However, due to the high standards of policing and professionalism the gigantic task of patrolling on N-5 (Highways) was also assigned to that department.
The NH&MP remained up to the expectations of commuters, resulting in a considerable decrease in the ratio of crime/robbery in the areas under its jurisdiction.
In these circumstances, the need of anti terrorism-qualified officers/officials for National Highways & Motorway Police cannot be denied.
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